tularaemia

tularaemia |ˌt (j )uːləˈriːmɪə |(US tularemia ) ▶noun [ mass noun ] a severe infectious bacterial disease of animals transmissible to humans, characterized by ulcers at the site of infection, fever, and loss of weight. Compare with rabbit fever. ●This disease is caused by the bacterium Pasteurella tularense; Gram-negative rods or cocci. DERIVATIVES tularaemic adjective ORIGIN 1920s: modern Latin, from Tulare, the county in California where it was first observed.