Tularemia: the disease and the weapon.
Tularemia is a bacterial infection usually transmitted via arthropod vectors or direct contact with infected animals. Naturally occurring cases are relatively rare, and can result in six different clinical syndromes. Tularemia is also a potential agent of bioterrorism or biowarfare, and is categorized as a high-level threat. Effective antibiotic treatment is available, including potential use of oral antibiotics in a mass casualty situation. An awareness of potential clinical presentations of tularemia will facilitate timely intervention,appropriate diagnostic testing, and decreased morbidity in the event of a biologic attack with Francisella tularensis.
Cronquist
Steven D
SD
Department of Dermatology, Naval Hospital Great Lakes, 3001A Sixth Street, Great Lakes, IL 60088, USA. sdcronquist@NHGL.med.navy.mil
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001694:Biological Warfare / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014406:Tularemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines