Histologic, immunohistochemical, microbiological, molecular biological and ultrastructural characterization of pulmonary tularemia

Tularemia is a rare zoonotic disease caused by Francisella tularensis, a Gram-negative bacteria. The clinical manifestations of pulmonary tularemia resemble those of other airways infections. Recently, a case of pulmonary tularemia was diagnosed at Tufts Medical Center. The purpose of the current re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPathology, research and practice Vol. 207; no. 1; pp. 63 - 66
Main Authors Navarro, Paula, Garcia-Moliner, Maria L., McMahon, James H., Telford, Sam R., Zoukhri, Driss, Alroy, Joseph
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Germany Elsevier GmbH 01.01.2011
Subjects
Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use
Antigens, Bacterial - analysis
Drainage
Francisella tularensis - genetics
Francisella tularensis - immunology
Francisella tularensis - pathogenicity
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Lung - diagnostic imaging
Lung - microbiology
Lung - pathology
Lung - ultrastructure
Lung Diseases - diagnosis
Lung Diseases - drug therapy
Lung Diseases - microbiology
Lung Diseases - surgery
Male
Microbiology
Microscopy, Electron
Molecular biology
Morphology
Pleural Effusion - complications
Pleural Effusion - therapy
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Treatment Outcome
Tularemia
Tularemia - diagnosis
Tularemia - drug therapy
Tularemia - surgery
Young Adult
Microbiology
Molecular biology
Morphology
Tularemia
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Summary:Tularemia is a rare zoonotic disease caused by Francisella tularensis, a Gram-negative bacteria. The clinical manifestations of pulmonary tularemia resemble those of other airways infections. Recently, a case of pulmonary tularemia was diagnosed at Tufts Medical Center. The purpose of the current report is to document the utility of applying several diagnostic tools, including immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, microbiology and molecular biology in confirming the diagnosis of pulmonary tularemia, particularly in convalescing cases (up to 3 weeks postpresentation) and after antibiotic therapy. Our study demonstrates the usefulness of microbiological studies followed by morphological evaluation and the limitation of the molecular biology analysis of posttherapy samples.
ISSN:0344-0338
1618-0631
DOI:10.1016/j.prp.2010.07.002