Bandouchova et al. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 2011, 53:2 http://www.actavetscand.com/content/53/1/2 that the European brown hare may be considered as having relatively low susceptibility to tularemia. There- fore, the circumstances of tularemia in hares under nat- ural conditions should be studied further. Acknowledgements The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports is gratefully acknowledged for project No. MSM 6215712402. Author details 1Department of Veterinary Ecology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho 1/3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic. 2Centre of Advanced Studies and Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defence/Trebesska 1575, 50001 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. 3Department of Biological and Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Studentska 95, 532 10 Pardubice, Czech Republic. 4Department of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho 1/3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic. Authors’ contributions HB carried out the whole experiment, performed data analyses and took part in preparing the manuscript. JP planned the experiment, performed statistical analyses and participated in preparing the manuscript. VD, LP and JS prepared experimental animals, assisted in planning the experimental design and biochemical evaluations. MP and KV analysed plasma samples using cyclic voltammetry. FT and FV cultured Francisella tularensis, prepared the strain for experimental infection and quantified the bacterium in tissues. They also took part in preparing the manuscript. All authors contributed to the study design, the preparation of the manuscript and also read and approved the final manuscript. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Received: 2 September 2010 Accepted: 13 January 2011 Published: 13 January 2011 References 1. Kaysser P, Seibold E, Mätz-Rensing K, Pfeffer M, Essbauer S, Splettstoesser WD: Re-emergence of tularemia in Germany: Presence of Francisella tularensis in different rodent species in endemic areas. BMC Infect Dis 2008, 8:157. 2. Petersen JM, Schriefer ME: Tularemia: emergence/re-emergence. Vet Res 2005, 36:455-467. 3. 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