rabbit fever
C1informal, technical (veterinary/medical)
Definition
Meaning
An infectious disease primarily affecting rabbits and hares, transmissible to humans.
An informal, common name for the bacterial infection tularemia, which can also affect other animals and humans, causing symptoms such as fever, ulcers, and swollen lymph nodes.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is used mainly in colloquial contexts; in formal medical/veterinary discourse, 'tularemia' (US) or 'tularaemia' (UK) is preferred.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term informally. The formal medical term shows spelling variation: 'tularaemia' (UK) vs. 'tularemia' (US).
Connotations
The informal term has a slightly folksy, rural connotation. It is more likely to be heard from hunters, farmers, or in regional speech than in urban hospitals.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse. Slightly more common in rural North America where the disease and rabbit hunting are more prevalent.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Patient contracted rabbit fever.Rabbit fever is caused by Francisella tularensis.The doctor diagnosed rabbit fever.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific; the term is itself a fixed noun phrase.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in agricultural or pharmaceutical contexts.
Academic
Used informally in biology/veterinary discussions; formal papers use 'tularemia'.
Everyday
Rare. Used by individuals with direct experience (hunters, rural dwellers, veterinarians).
Technical
Informal synonym within veterinary medicine, wildlife management, and infectious disease control.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The hunter feared he might rabbit-fever after skinning the hare.
American English
- He's worried he rabbit-fevered from that infected cottontail.
adjective
British English
- The rabbit-fever outbreak was contained quickly.
American English
- She showed rabbit-fever symptoms within a week.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My uncle got sick from a rabbit. The doctor called it rabbit fever.
- You should wear gloves when handling wild rabbits to avoid rabbit fever.
- Public health officials issued a warning about a local rabbit fever outbreak linked to tick bites.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a RABBIT with a FEVER — a simple image for the disease's common name.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISEASE IS AN INVADER (the bacteria invade the host).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'кроличья лихорадка'. The standard Russian medical term is 'туляремия'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'rabbit fever' in formal medical writing.
- Confusing it with other zoonotic diseases like 'rabbit haemorrhagic disease'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the formal medical term for 'rabbit fever'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, human-to-human transmission of tularemia (rabbit fever) is extremely rare. It is primarily contracted from animals, ticks, or deer flies.
Yes, but it is uncommon with modern antibiotic treatment. Some strains, if untreated, can have a high mortality rate.
No, they are completely different diseases. Myxomatosis is a viral disease specific to rabbits and does not infect humans.
It is found across North America, parts of Europe, and Asia. In the US, it is most prevalent in rural areas, particularly in south-central and western states.