Pathogenesis (disease development)
The Gram-negative bacterium Francisella tularensis is then transmitted to humans by ticks and horseflies or by contact with infected meat, etc. (see below) transmitted directly to humans. Transmission from person to person is not possible. The incubation period is usually three to five days.
Etiology (causes)
Behavioral causes
- Contact with infected animal material (via skin/mucous membranes) [esp. hunters].
- Consumption of infected food
- Drinking infected drinking water
- Consumption of insufficiently heated contaminated meat (e.g., hare).
- Inhalation of infected/contaminated dust or aerosols (e.g., during industrial washing and chopping of contaminated vegetables, hay making, or lawn mowing)
- Processing of game meat and agricultural products
- Bite or bite infected blood-sucking arthropod (eg, from horseflies, mosquitoes, ticks).
Intentional release of the pathogen (bioterrorism) is possible.
