What disease can lead to a decline in jackrabbit populations?

Tularemia is a bacterial disease that significantly impacts jackrabbit populations. Caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, tularemia can be transmitted through various routes, including bites from infected insects or direct contact with infected animals. This disease can lead to severe health problems in jackrabbits, often resulting in increased mortality rates. When large numbers of jackrabbits are affected, their populations can decline, which in turn impacts the ecosystems reliant on them as a food source.

Other diseases listed, such as influenza, rabies, and West Nile Virus, primarily affect different species or are not known to cause substantial declines in jackrabbit populations. While these diseases may pose risks to various wildlife or humans, they do not have the same direct impact on jackrabbits that tularemia does.