Zoonotic agents and genetically based resistance conferred by the Tyr139Cys polymorphism are both unevenly distributed in Lower Saxony. The study provides the basis for further studies focusing on districts with high levels of pathogens and resistance to assess the potential health risk of their combined occurrence.

No abstract

Francisella tularensis is the aetiological agent of tularemia. Hares, rabbits, and small rodents are the main hosts, but humans can be infected and develop severe clinical symptoms. In Germany, tularemia in humans was a rare disease during the last four decades, but since 2005, this zoonosis seems to be re-emerging. However, only very little is known about the prevalence in the host populations.

No abstract