Fransisella tularensis

• What type of bacteria is Francisella Tularensis?

  Gram -ve
• What is the shape of Francisella Tularensis?

  Coccobacilli
• Is Francisella Tularensis an aerobe or anaerobe?

  Obligate Aerobe
• What does it mean that Francisella Tularensis is facultative intracellular?

  It can live inside host cells
• What type of capsule does Francisella Tularensis have?

  Polysaccharide Capsule
• What are the primary reservoirs for Francisella Tularensis?

  Rabbits, hares, and rodents
• How is Francisella Tularensis primarily transmitted?

  Through deer flies and ticks
• What are the ways Francisella Tularensis can be transmitted?

  Ingestion, inhalation, and bites
• What happens when Francisella Tularensis enters the body?

  It causes a painful ulcer
• What is the pathogenesis of Francisella Tularensis?

  It travels through lymph system to granulomas
• What are common clinical manifestations of Tularaemia?

  Flu-like symptoms and lymphadenopathy
• What percentage of Tularaemia cases are Ulceroglandular?

  45-85%
• What is the percentage of cases for Oculoglandular Tularaemia?

  Less than 5%
• What is a significant symptom of Glandular Tularaemia?

  Regional lymphadenopathy
• What culture medium is used for microbiological diagnosis of Francisella Tularensis?

  Charcoal Yeast Extract Agar
• What types of specimens are used for diagnosing Tularaemia?

  Sputum, ulcer scrapings, lymph node biopsies
• What is the purpose of the Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IF Test)?

  To diagnose Francisella Tularensis infection
• What is the first-line treatment for Tularaemia?

  Streptomycin
• Which antibiotic is also used to treat Tularaemia besides Streptomycin?

  Gentamycin
• What is another antibiotic option for treating Tularaemia?

  Doxycycline
• Which antibiotic can be used for Tularaemia treatment that is a fluoroquinolone?

  Ciprofloxacin
• What is the most common clinical form of tularemia?

  Ulceroglandular tularemia — characterized by a skin ulcer at the site of tick/deerfly bite + regional lymphadenopathy.
• What is the most severe and potentially fatal form of tularemia?

  Pneumonic tularemia — can result from inhalation (e.g., bioterrorism), causes severe pneumonia and has a high mortality rate without treatment.
• Does Francisella tularensis have a capsule? If so, what is its role?

  Yes, it is encapsulated. The capsule helps it evade phagocytosis and contributes to immune evasion.
• Why is Francisella tularensis culturing discouraged in routine labs?

  Because it is highly infectious via aerosols and requires biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) precautions. Lab workers are at risk of accidental infection.