Host Immunity and <i>Francisella tularensis</i>: A Review of Tularemia in Immunocompromised Patients
Tularemia, caused by the bacterium <i>Francisella tularensis,</i> is an infrequent zoonotic infection, well known in immunocompetent (but poorly described in immunocompromised) patients. Although there is no clear literature data about the specific characteristics of this disease in immu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/12/2539 |
| _version_ | 1797502348938969088 |
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| author | Olivier Bahuaud Cécile Le Brun Adrien Lemaignen |
| author_facet | Olivier Bahuaud Cécile Le Brun Adrien Lemaignen |
| author_sort | Olivier Bahuaud |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tularemia, caused by the bacterium <i>Francisella tularensis,</i> is an infrequent zoonotic infection, well known in immunocompetent (but poorly described in immunocompromised) patients. Although there is no clear literature data about the specific characteristics of this disease in immunocompromised patients, clinical reports seem to describe a different presentation of tularemia in these patients. Moreover, atypical clinical presentations added to the fastidiousness of pathogen identification seem to be responsible for a delayed diagnosis, leading to a” loss of chance” for immunocompromised patients. In this article, we first provide an overview of the host immune responses to <i>Francisella</i> infections and discuss how immunosuppressive therapies or diseases can lead to a higher susceptibility to tularemia. Then, we describe the particular clinical patterns of tularemia in immunocompromised patients from the literature. We also provide hints of an alternative diagnostic strategy regarding these patients. In conclusion, tularemia should be considered in immunocompromised patients presenting pulmonary symptoms or unexplained fever. Molecular techniques on pathological tissues might improve diagnosis with faster results. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:31:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e7933bf486364389975681d170edecd3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:31:49Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-e7933bf486364389975681d170edecd32023-11-23T09:39:31ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072021-12-01912253910.3390/microorganisms9122539Host Immunity and <i>Francisella tularensis</i>: A Review of Tularemia in Immunocompromised PatientsOlivier Bahuaud0Cécile Le Brun1Adrien Lemaignen2Service de Médecine Interne et Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Tours, 37000 Tours, FranceService de Bactériologie-Virologie, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Tours, 37000 Tours, FranceService de Médecine Interne et Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Tours, 37000 Tours, FranceTularemia, caused by the bacterium <i>Francisella tularensis,</i> is an infrequent zoonotic infection, well known in immunocompetent (but poorly described in immunocompromised) patients. Although there is no clear literature data about the specific characteristics of this disease in immunocompromised patients, clinical reports seem to describe a different presentation of tularemia in these patients. Moreover, atypical clinical presentations added to the fastidiousness of pathogen identification seem to be responsible for a delayed diagnosis, leading to a” loss of chance” for immunocompromised patients. In this article, we first provide an overview of the host immune responses to <i>Francisella</i> infections and discuss how immunosuppressive therapies or diseases can lead to a higher susceptibility to tularemia. Then, we describe the particular clinical patterns of tularemia in immunocompromised patients from the literature. We also provide hints of an alternative diagnostic strategy regarding these patients. In conclusion, tularemia should be considered in immunocompromised patients presenting pulmonary symptoms or unexplained fever. Molecular techniques on pathological tissues might improve diagnosis with faster results.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/12/2539<i>Francisella</i> <i>tularensis</i>tularemiaimmunocompromisedhost immunity |
| spellingShingle | Olivier Bahuaud Cécile Le Brun Adrien Lemaignen Host Immunity and <i>Francisella tularensis</i>: A Review of Tularemia in Immunocompromised Patients Microorganisms <i>Francisella</i> <i>tularensis</i> tularemia immunocompromised host immunity |
| title | Host Immunity and <i>Francisella tularensis</i>: A Review of Tularemia in Immunocompromised Patients |
| title_full | Host Immunity and <i>Francisella tularensis</i>: A Review of Tularemia in Immunocompromised Patients |
| title_fullStr | Host Immunity and <i>Francisella tularensis</i>: A Review of Tularemia in Immunocompromised Patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Host Immunity and <i>Francisella tularensis</i>: A Review of Tularemia in Immunocompromised Patients |
| title_short | Host Immunity and <i>Francisella tularensis</i>: A Review of Tularemia in Immunocompromised Patients |
| title_sort | host immunity and i francisella tularensis i a review of tularemia in immunocompromised patients |
| topic | <i>Francisella</i> <i>tularensis</i> tularemia immunocompromised host immunity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/12/2539 |
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