The use of FA-technique for detecting Francisella tularensis in formalin fixed material. A method useful in routine post mortem work.

Tularemia is a highly infectious zoonosis, in Sweden usually occurring in the varying hare. The risk of human infections when diagnosing this disease in the laboratory is high. Therefore, a method for diagnosing tularemia in formalin fixed material with the FA-technique has been tested. 46 necropsied varying hares were examined using this method. 28 of the examined animals were diagnosed with tularemia based on conventional post mortem, histological and bacteriological examinations. 96 per cent of them were positive to the FA-technique test. 18 other animals infected with different bacteria and Toxoplasma were also tested. All the controls were negative.