FELINE TULAREMIA

Feline tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by the gram-negative ple omorphic coccobacillus Francisella tularensis. F, tularensis can infec t a variety of mammals, birds, and arthropod vectors Cats can become i nfected by direct contact with infected animals. ingestion of infected tissue or contaminated water, arthropod bites, or inhalation of aeros olized particles. Clinical manifestations of feline tularemia can rang e from mild to fatal clinical disease. Definitive diagnosis is based o n demonstrating rising titers of agglutinating antibodies to F. tulare nsis, detecting the presence of F. tularensis organisms in tissue by f luorescent antibody tests, or selectively culturing the organisms. Iso lation is not usually attempted, however, because of the significant r isk of infection in laboratory personnel. Treatment consists of antibi otic therapy with gentamicin, enrofloxacin, tetracycline, or chloramph enicol; however, F. tularensis is resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics . The best preventive measure is not allowing cats to be exposed to th e organism in enzootic areas. Because tularemia is overlooked as a pub lic health risk, veterinarians must begin to consider the disease in t heir diagnostic routine.