Skip all navigation Skip to page navigation

DHHS Home | Assistance | Divisions | About DHHS | DHHS Contacts

NC Department of Health and Human Services
State Laboratory of Public Health
 N.C. Public Health Home
 
 

Bioterrorism - Agents of Concern

Francisella tularensis

Francisella tularensis on CHAB
F. tularensis on CHAB @ 48hrs (PHIL)

Colony Characteristics

  • Poor growth on sheep blood agar.
  • Growth on chocolate, Thayer-Martin, and horse blood agar: 1-3 mm, gray-white to bluish-gray with a smooth flat surface at 48-72 hrs.
  • Ability to grow on sheep blood agar diminishes after sub-culturing.
  • Does not grow on MacConkey or EMB agar.

Francisella tularensis 48 hours Horse Blood
F. tularensis on Horse Blood Agar @48 hrs (NCSLPH)
 Francisella tularensis on CHAB
F. tularensis on Sheep Blood Agar @48 hrs (NCSLPH)

Microscopic

Francisella microscopic

  • Faintly staining, very tiny Gram-negative coccobacillus, most appear as single cells.
  • Cells appear smaller than those of Brucella spp.

Oxidase Negative
Urease Negative
Non-Motile

Any sample that cannot be ruled out by these methods should be forwarded to the NCSLPH.


SLPH Bioterrorism Information