Phylogenetic Lineages of Francisella tularensis in Animals

Abstract

Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by the facultative intracellular bacterium Francisella tularensis. This microorganism can infect a plethora of animal species and its ecology is particularly complex. Much research was performed to understand its biology but many questions are still open, especially concerning the life cycle of this bacterium in the environment related to physical and biological parameters. Numerous animals are major hosts of F. tularensis but precise reservoir species are not yet well defined. Moreover, the exact range of species susceptible to tularemia is not clear and is complicated by the differences in virulence and ecology observed among the subspecies of F. tularensis. Indeed, different life cycles in nature, including the animal species concerned, were previously described for F. tularensis subsp. tularensis and F. tularensis subsp. holarctica. Recently, molecular techniques showing adequate discrimination between strains were developed, leading to the possibility to investigate links between phylogenetic lineages and infection in animals. New perspectives in research are now possible thanks to the information available and the simplicity of the molecular procedures. Current studies are unfolding the evolution of F. tularensis and these developments will lead to the elucidation of geographical and ecological differences observed by veterinarians, microbiologists and conservation biologists. However, systematic, coordinated collection of data and extensive sampling are important to efficiently assemble the findings of future research.

Tularemia: a re-emerging tick-borne infectious disease

“…tularensis is the causative agent of type A tularemia, which presents exclusively in North America. Type A is a more virulent subspecies of the microorganism, which is responsible for the majority of infections in humans (Pilo 2018 ). This disease is also known as rabbit fever because it was mostly found in hunters of rabbits and hares.…”

Nutrition and Bipartite Metabolism of Intracellular Pathogens

“…This process is required for intracellular replication of F. tularensis but failure to replicate due to inhibition of macroautophagy could be rescued with the addition of excess nonessential amino acids or pyruvate [4]. In addition, the pathogen also employs differential metabolite fluxes that varies between Francisella species, suggesting that the different utilization of substrates could be related to host specificity and virulence of Francisella [68,69]. In addition, the pathogen overrides host restriction of iron [70].…”

First European report of Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica isolation from a domestic cat

“…The most virulent subspecies are tularensis and holarctica, which have been reported from North America and the whole Northern hemisphere, respectively [1]. The bacterium has a broad host range including different vertebrate groups as well as invertebrates [2]. Transmission occurs via inhalation of infected droplets, contact with infected animals, bites of arthropod vectors or oral uptake [3].…”