Tularemia

Question 1

What are the causative organism(s) for Tularemia?

Answer 1

Francisella tularensis

Question 2

What form of Tularemia is Francisella tularenesis?

Answer 2

Bacteria, gram-negative

Question 3

What are the most common modes of transmission of Francisella tularensis (Tularemia)?

Answer 3

Biological vector (tick); also direct contact with body fluids from infected animal; airborne

Question 4

What are the virulence factors for Francisella tularensis?

Answer 4

Intracellular grrowth

Question 5

How do you culture/diagnose Francisella tularenesis (Tularemia)?

Answer 5

Culture dangerous to lab workers and not reliable; serology most often used; fine needle aspirations of lymph nodes sometimes used

Question 6

How do you prevent Francisella tularensis (Tularemia)?

Question 7

How do you treat Francisella tularrensis (Tularemia)?

Answer 7

Gentamicin or streptomycin

Question 8

What are the epidemiological features of Francisella tularensis (Tularemia)?

Answer 8

United States: several hundred cases per year; internationally, 500,000 cases per year

Category A Bioterrorism Agent