[Tularemia: a decade in the province of Soria (Spain)].

Introduction: Tularemia is a zoonotic disease that has been regularly reported in Spain since 1997. This study analyzes suspected, probable, and confirmed cases of tularemia in the province of Soria, and compares them with tularemia cases recorded in the autonomous community of Castilla y Léon, which, with the exception of 1 sporadic case, occurred in 2 epidemic outbreaks in 1997/1998 and 2007/2008.

Methods: We studied all patients (53) with signs and symptoms of tularemia in the period of 1997 to 2008.

Tick species and tick-borne infections identified in population from a rural area of Spain.

To determine the tick species that bite humans in the province of Soria (Spain) and ascertain the tick-borne pathogens that threaten people's health in that province, 185 tick specimens were collected from 179 patients who sought medical advice at health-care centres. The ticks were identified, and their DNA examined by PCR for pathogens. Most ticks were collected in autumn and spring (59 and 57 respectively).