CLINICAL SIGNS

Clinical cases of tularaemia are infrequently observed in free-ranging wildlife, as infected animals are usually found moribund or dead⁽⁷⁾. Non-specific signs include depression and pyrexia. Local inflammation or ulceration at the portal of entry and enlargement of the regional lymph nodes may be observed. Highly sensitive animals develop fatal septi­caemia and may be non-responsive before death. In hares depression, stupor, loss of body weight and lack of fear, facilitating capture, are observed in the late stages of the disease. Relatively resistant wild species survive the infec­tion and develop immunity.