Properties

Pathogenesis

Clinical findings

Laboratory diagnosis

Treatment & Prevention

Small, pleomorphic gram-negative rod.

Bacteria transmitted among animals by vectors such as ticks, mites, and lice.

Humans acquire infection by:

- being bitten by the vector.

- having skin contact with animal during removal of the hide.

- ingestion of infected meat.

- inhalation.

No person-to-person spread.

Enters through skin, forming an ulcer at the site, localizes to cells of the reticuloendothelial system, & granulomas are formed.

Caseation necrosis & abscesses can also occur.

Disease: tularemia

Sudden onset of influenzalike syndrome to prolonged onset of a low-grade fever & adenopathy.

Signs:

- local infection of skin or eye.

- infection of lymph nodes.

- septicemia.

- pneumonia.

Disease confers lifelong immunity.

Agglutination test with acute- & convalescent-phase serum samples.

Fluorescent-antibody staining of infected tissues.

Steptomycin.

Prevention: attenuated bacterial vaccine given only to persons, such as fur trappers.