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Introduction: Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by Francisella tularensis. Here we present an epidemic occurring in Bolu province, located in northwestern Anatolia in Turkey, and some features of the cases. Methodology: The data was provided by the Bolu Provincial Health Directorate. All of the antibody response tests were studied in the National Health Institute (formerly named Refik Saydam Hygiene Department), the reference laboratory of the Ministry of Health of the Turkish Republic. A total of 393 individuals were tested by microagglutination test (MAT) for tularemia between 2006 and 2011. A total of 218 patients whose demographical data were available were included in the study; 83 were accepted as the patient group and 135 were the controls. Of the patients, 31 (37.3%) were male and 52 (62.7%) were female. Results: Fever (p < 0.001), URTI symptoms (p = 0.047), conjunctivitis (p = 0.004), and rash (p = 0.026) were significantly higher in the patient group. A positive association was found between MAT and fever (r = 0.324; p < 0.001), and a negative association was found between MAT and both lymphoadenopathy (r = -0.25; p = 0.013) and chills (r = -0.218; p = 0.035). Higher MAT titers were detected in oropharyngeal tularemia (r = 0.306; p = 0.003). Conclusions: In conclusion, tularemia must be considered in differential diagnosis in patients presenting with fever and LAP in non-endemic regions. Furthermore, water sources and contact with rodents must be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tularemia is an infection caused by Francisella tularensis, which has a wide distribution in the northern hemisphere and diverse clinical manifestations. For decades, the drug of choice for the treatment of tularemia has been streptomycin, with tetracycline and chloramphenicol being used as alternatives. The purpose of the present study was to determine the in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of a large panel of geographically diverse F. tularensis isolates from Turkey against traditional and newer antimicrobial agents. Methods: The antibiotic susceptibilities of 250 F. tularensis strains were examined using the Epsilometer test for 9 antimicrobial agents. Each isolate was identified by conventional and molecular techniques. Results: All the strains were confirmed biochemically and using a combination of species- and subspecies-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to be F. tularensis subsp. holarctica. One isolate was assigned to F. tularensis subsp. holarctica biovar japonica based on erythromycin susceptibility, an ability to ferment glycerol, and the nucleotide sequence of the region of difference 1 (RD1). All strains were susceptible to aminoglycosides (streptomycin and gentamicin), tetracyclines (tetracycline and doxycycline), chloramphenicol, 2 fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin), and rifampicin. In addition, all isolates except 1 had a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for erythromycin of > 256 μg/ml. Conclusions: Since the fluoroquinolones showed the lowest MIC values and have advantages such as excellent bioavailability and activity, availability of oral formulations, and lower toxicities, they represent candidate therapeutic options in the first-line treatment of tularemia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of F. tularensis subsp. holarctica biovar japonica outside Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited knowledge is available regarding tularemia in pregnancy. A total of seven tularemia cases in pregnant women have been published in the literature. This report presents three new cases. Two of these cases improved without any treatment. The third case was treated with gentamicin. All three pregnancies reached full term without complication for either mother or child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]