Francisella Tularensis

Francisella tularensis is the bacterium that causes tularemia. This bacterium was discovered in 1912 by the American scientist Francis Calder. The name of the bacterium comes from the Latin word "Tulare", which means "mountain fever".

Francisella tularensis is a Gram-negative rod shaped like a tennis racket. It can be colored with various dyes, but does not contain spores or capsules. The size of bacteria is 1-3 micrometers. They can be propagated on regular nutrient media using glucose and lactose as carbon sources.

Tularemia is an infectious disease caused by Francisea tularensia. This disease is transmitted by airborne droplets, through blood-sucking insects or indirectly. It manifests itself in the form of a prolonged feverish state, accompanied by cough, rhinitis and conjunctivitis. Skin lesions such as erythema, eczema impetiginosa, and mucosal tularemia may also occur. In some cases, this disease can lead to pneumonia, hepatitis, endocarditis and meningitis.

Antibiotics such as streptomycin, erythromycin and doxycycline are used to treat tularemia. Tularemia can be transmitted through animals such as rodents, birds and ticks and humans, which can cause outbreaks.