Bacteria: Francisella tularensis

Gyuranecz, Miklós (2014) Bacteria: Francisella tularensis. In: Encyclopedia of Food Safety. Elsevier, San Diego - London - Waltham, pp. 442-445. ISBN 978-0-12-378613-5

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Abstract

Francisella tularensis is the etiological agent of tularemia, which is a life-threatening zoonotic disease. It is a Gram-negative, obligate aerobic, and intracellular bacterium with a conservative genetic character. The host range of F. tularensis includes mammals, birds, amphibians, fish, as well as humans. Despite this wide host range, tularemia is primarily a disease of the genera Lagomorpha and Rodentia, whereas hematophagous arthropods play a role both in the maintenance of F. tularensis in nature and disease transmission. After entering the body (via inoculation by arthropods or through wounds, conjunctiva, inhalation, or ingestion), the bacterium multiplies locally causing ulceration and necrosis and then spreads to the lymph nodes and organs (spleen, liver, lung, and kidney) causing scattered foci of coagulation necrosis. A wide range of different analytical methods (serology, immunohistochemistry, culture, and molecular assays) are available for the diagnosis of tularemia. Seven clinicopathological forms of human tularemia have been described: ulceroglandular, glandular, oculoglandular, oropharyngeal, pneumonic, typhoidal, and septicemic. Infection in humans can be treated with antibiotics such as quinolones, aminoglycosides, and tetracyclines. Until now, there is no available licensed vaccine against F. tularensis; however, people can minimize the risk of infection by following various control and preventive measures.

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