Introduction

Classification

Taxonomy

• Genus Francisella - named after Edward Francis;
• Species tularensis - named after Tulare County where tularemia Tularemia was first recognized in ground squirrels;
• Two main biovars - Type A and type B.

Active Forms

Clinical Effects

Epidemiology

Habitat

• Ticks can act as reservoirs of infection.
• Rodents and lagomorphs are principal vectors.

Lifecycle

• Natural cycle includes ticks, rodents and lagomorphs.

Transmission

• Tick vectors (other biting insects?).
• Cats and dogs can also be infected by ingestion of infected rodents.
• Aerosol in laboratory.

Pathological effects

• More severe disease seen in younger animals.
• Dogs relatively resistant to disease.
• Characteristic small yellow, white or gray foci of necrosis on surface of liver, spleen and lymph nodes.

Other Host Effects

• Facultative intracellular bacterium.
• Grows inside macrophages and hepatocytes.

Control

Control via animal

• Tick control Tick control for pets.

Control via chemotherapies

• Streptomycin Streptomycin or gentamicin Gentamicin injectable.
• Fluoroquinolones or tetracycline Tetracycline orally.

Control via environment

• Restrict pets from areas with infected rodents.

Diagnosis

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• García del Blanco N, Gutiérrez C B, de la Puente V A et al (2004) Biochemical characterisation of Francisella tularensis strains isolated in Spain. Vet Rec 154 (2), 55-56 PubMed.
• DeBey B M, Andrews G A, Chard-Bergstrom C et al (2002) Immunohistochemical demonstration of Francisella tularensis in lesions of cats with tularaemia. J Vet Diag Invest 14 (2), 162-164 PubMed.
• Ikäheimo I, Syrjälä H, Karhukorpi J et al (2000) In vitro antibiotic susceptibility of Francisella tularensis isolated from humans and animals. J Antimicrob Chemother 46 (2), 287-290 PubMed.
• Gustafson B W, DeBowes L J (1996) Tularaemia in a dog. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 32 (4), 339-341 VetMedResource.
• Baldwin C J, Panciera R J, Morton R J et al (1991) Acute tularaemia in three domestic cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 199 (11), 1602-1605 PubMed.