Open AccessImmunohistochemical Demonstration of Francisella Tularensis in Lesions of Cats with Tularemia
Author(s) -
Brad M. DeBey,
Gordon A. Andrews,
Cindy Chard-Bergstrom,
Linda K. Cox
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.529
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1943-4936
pISSN - 1040-6387
DOI - 10.1177/104063870201400213
Subject(s) - tularemia , francisella tularensis , immunohistochemistry , cats , biology , antigen , francisella , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , isolation (microbiology) , virology , medicine , immunology , virulence , biochemistry , gene
An immunohistochemical test was developed and validated for detection of Francisella tularensis antigen in tissues of cats with fatal tularemia. Ten cases of naturally occurring tularemia in cats were positive both by isolation of F. tularensis and immunohistochemical identification of F. tularensis antigen. Nine additional cases with lesions typical of tularemia were positive for F. tularensis antigen, although bacterial cultures were not performed. Immunohistochemical identification of F. tularensis in formalin-fixed tissue is valuable for establishing a rapid etiologic diagnosis under circumstances where fresh tissues may not be available for isolation and identification of the organism.