Exotic Diseases: From Animals to Humans FROM THE LECTURE SERIES: An Introduction to Infectious Diseases Seventy percent of infectious diseases originate from wildlife. It is important to be aware of the many ways you can contract infections from animals, and know of the ways you can protect yourself. What do we know about some of these exotic diseases? Infections to humans can get transferred from both wild and farm animals. (Image: Rost9/Shutterstock) Tularemia: A Bacterial Infection Tularemia is a zoonotic bacterial infection. The most common cause of acquiring tularemia is from direct contact with the blood or flesh of wild rabbits—for example, skinning and eating wild rabbit meat. Tularemia skin disease in humans is most similar to cat-scratch disease, but more severe.