TY - JOUR
T1 - Tularaemia
T2 - A challenging zoonosis
AU - Carvalho, C. L.
AU - Lopes de Carvalho, I.
AU - Zé-Zé, L.
AU - Núncio, M. S.
AU - Duarte, E. L.
N1 - Funding Information:
We acknowledge the work carried out by Ana Sofia Santos, Fátima Amaro, Hugo Osório, Maria João Alves and Rita de Sousa from the Doctor Ricardo Jorge National Health Institute, I.P., Centre for Vectors and Infectious Diseases Research. Funding was provided by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) (PTDC/SAU-ESA 104947/2008). C. Carvalho has been awarded a FCT PhD scholarship (SFRH/BD/79225/2011).
PY - 2014/3
Y1 - 2014/3
N2 - In recent years, several emerging zoonotic vector-borne infections with potential impact on human health have been identified in Europe, including tularaemia, caused by Francisella tularensis. This remarkable pathogen, one of the most virulent microorganisms currently known, has been detected in increasingly new settings and in a wide range of wild species, including lagomorphs, rodents, carnivores, fish and invertebrate arthropods. Also, a renewed concern has arisen with regard to F. tularensis: its potential use by bioterrorists. Based on the information published concerning the latest outbreaks, the aim of this paper is to review the main features of the agent, its biology, immunology and epidemiology. Moreover, special focus will be given to zoonotic aspects of the disease, as tularaemia outbreaks in human populations have been frequently associated with disease in animals.
AB - In recent years, several emerging zoonotic vector-borne infections with potential impact on human health have been identified in Europe, including tularaemia, caused by Francisella tularensis. This remarkable pathogen, one of the most virulent microorganisms currently known, has been detected in increasingly new settings and in a wide range of wild species, including lagomorphs, rodents, carnivores, fish and invertebrate arthropods. Also, a renewed concern has arisen with regard to F. tularensis: its potential use by bioterrorists. Based on the information published concerning the latest outbreaks, the aim of this paper is to review the main features of the agent, its biology, immunology and epidemiology. Moreover, special focus will be given to zoonotic aspects of the disease, as tularaemia outbreaks in human populations have been frequently associated with disease in animals.
KW - Category A biowarfare agents
KW - Francisella tularensis
KW - Tularaemia
KW - Wild animals
KW - Zoonosis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84896718836&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cimid.2014.01.002
DO - 10.1016/j.cimid.2014.01.002
M3 - Review article
C2 - 24480622
AN - SCOPUS:84896718836
SN - 0147-9571
VL - 37
SP - 85
EP - 96
JO - Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
JF - Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
IS - 2
ER -