Three Cases of Tickborne Francisella tularensis Infection, Austria, 2022

Abstract

Tularemia is increasing in Austria. We report Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica isolated from 3 patients who had been bitten by arthropods. Next-generation sequencing showed substantial isolate similarity. Clinicians should consider bloodstream F. tularensis infections for patients with signs/symptoms of ulceroglandular tularemia, and surveillance of potential vectors should be intensified.

Keywords

• Francisella tularensis
• tularemia
• tick bites
• tickborne disease
• vector-borne infections
• parasites