The zoonotic disease tularemia is caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Francisella tularensis, with the two major subspecies tularensis and holarctica being responsible for infections in humans and animals. The F. tularensis subspecies holarctica is less virulent and prevalent in Europe and Asia. Over the last few centuries, few epidemic outbreaks and low numbers of infections have been registered in the eastern part of Austria, specifically in the provinces of Lower Austria, Burgenland, and Styria. The reported infections were mostly associated with hunting hares and the skinning of carcasses. Within the last decade, ticks have been identified as important vectors in Tyrol and served as first evidence for the spread of F. tularensis to Western Austria. In 2018, the pathogen was detected in hares in the provinces of Tyrol, Vorarlberg, and Salzburg. We presume that F. tularensis is now established in most regions of Austria, and that the investigation of potential host and vector animals should be spotlighted by public institutions. Tularemia in humans presents with various clinical manifestations. As glandular, ulceroglandular, and typhoidal forms occur in Austria, this infectious disease should be considered as a differential diagnosis of unknown fever.

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兔热病向西蔓延：奥地利新发感染的流行病学


人畜共患土拉菌病是由革兰氏阴性细菌土拉弗朗西斯菌引起的，土拉菌和土拉菌两个主要亚种是人类和动物感染的原因。 F. tularensis holarctica 亚种的毒性较低，在欧洲和亚洲流行。过去几个世纪以来，奥地利东部地区，特别是下奥地利州、布尔根兰州和施蒂里亚州，很少爆发流行病，感染人数也很少。报告的感染主要与狩猎野兔和剥尸体皮有关。在过去的十年中，蜱已被确定为蒂罗尔州的重要媒介，并成为土拉蜱传播到奥地利西部的第一个证据。 2018年，在蒂罗尔州、福拉尔贝格州和萨尔茨堡省的野兔中检测到了这种病原体。我们推测土拉弗氏菌现已在奥地利大部分地区建立，公共机构应重点关注对潜在宿主和媒介动物的调查。人类兔热病呈现出多种临床表现。由于腺性、溃疡性腺性和伤寒形式在奥地利发生，这种传染病应被视为不明发烧的鉴别诊断。