Tularemia, also identified as rabbit fever or deer-fly fever, is caused by the gram-negative intracellular pathogen Francisella tularensis. This bacterium was initially recognized in 1912 following news of a plaguelike illness in ground squirrels in Tulare County, California. The majority of pathogenic microorganisms known, F. tularensis is at present listed as a category A select agent because of its probablity as a bioterrorism agent. F. tularensis is a minute Gram-negative aerobic bacillus with two major serotypes: Jellison Type A and Type B. Type A is the more virulent form. The causative agent of the disease was named after Dr. Edward Francis and the location where the organism was discovered, Tulare County, California. Tularemia is recurrently spread by straight contact with rabbits, leading to the term "rabbit fever." On the other hand, the disease can also be spread by additional animals, characteristically rodents, and by arthropods. It is principally a rustic disease that is found in all 50 states, apart from Hawaii.( Dennis DT, (2001))
Historical commentaries position the virulence of the disease, demonstrating that people have been conscious of pathogenicity of Francisella for thousands of years. On the other hand, there is still much to be learned about this tremendously dangerous organism. The disease can be contracted by ingestion, inhalation, or by straight skin contact. Tularemia transpires in six dissimilar forms: typhoidal, pneumonic, oculoglandular, oropharyngeal, ulceroglandular, and glandular. Medical analysis can be hard as the disease imitates a slough of other illnesses. Pathogenesis differs very much depending on form of infection.( Dennis DT, (2001))
The incubation stage is about 3-5 days but it can take as extensive as two weeks for signs to emerge. Signs differ based on form of disease, but usually comprise of fever, chills, joint and muscle pain, headache, weakness, and from time to time pneumonia..................
