Waterborne Outbreak of Tularemia Associated with Crayfish Fishing

Abstract

In 1997, an outbreak of human tularemia associated with hare-hunting in central Spain affected 585 patients. We describe the identification of Francisella tularensis biovar palaearctica in a second outbreak of ulceroglandular tularemia associated with crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) fishing in a contaminated freshwater stream distant from the hare-associated outbreak. The second outbreak occurred 1 year after the first.

Raccoons in Europe: disease hazards due to the establishment of an invasive species

“…Contaminated water is one possible risk of disease transmission. In humans, outbreaks of the disease have been associated with crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) fishing in contaminated freshwater streams (Anda et al 2001). Tularemia is a zoonotic disease that affects a wide range of animal species.…”

Water-Borne Outbreak of Oropharyngeal and Glandular Tularemia in Georgia: Investigation and Follow-up

“…Diverse environmental exposures can lead to infection in humans [2][3][4]. Water-borne tularemia outbreaks have been reported in Europe [5][6][7][8][9]. Most waterborne cases lead to oropharyngeal tularemia and are usually associated with unchlorinated drinking water consumption.…”

Molecular Investigation of Tularemia Outbreaks, Spain, 1997–2008

“…Its timing coincided with a population peak of the common vole ( Microtus arvalis ), and the most frequent clinical forms of the disease were typhoidal and pneumonic (65% of the cases), which is consistent with infection being acquired through inhalation of F. tularensis ( 11 – 13 ). Sporadic tularemia cases and small outbreaks were reported during 2000–2006 in the interval between the 2 major outbreaks in northwestern Spain ( 13 , 14 ). …”