Video - Francisella tularensis (Tularemia)

Francisella tularensis is a gram-negative, facultative intracellular coccobacillus, known to cause a zoonotic infection known as tularemia. Tularemia can be transmitted to humans by ticks, deer flies, rabbits, and deer flies.

Depending on the transmission route, tularemia has several forms, including ulceroglandular, oculoglandular, and pneumonic. The ulceroglandular form occurs when the bacteria enter through a break in the skin. The ulcer at the site of infection becomes swollen and painful, and may discharge pus. Glands near the ulcer may also become enlarged. Next, the oculoglandular form occurs when the bacteria are spread to the eyes. Symptoms include redness, swelling, and pain in the eyes, photophobia, as well as swollen lymph nodes., Finally, the pneumonic form occurs when the bacteria are inhaled and resulting in pneumonia. Symptoms include fever, chest pain, and coughing up blood.