Inguinal Ulceroglandular Tularemia Caused by Francisella tularensis Subspecies holarctica, Canada

Abstract

Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by the gram-negative coccobacillus Francisella tularensis, a Biosafety Level 3 pathogen and potential agent of bioterrorism. We describe 2 cases of perigenital ulcer disease caused by Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica in Manitoba, Canada. These cases caused inadvertent exposure among laboratory personnel.

Keywords

• tularemia
• vector-borne infections
• genital ulcer disease
• Francisella tularensis
• laboratory-acquired infection
• bacteria