Serological tests (detection of antibodies in the serum of the patients) are available and widely used. Cross reactivity with Brucella can confuse interpretation of the results, so diagnosis should not rely only on serology. Molecular methods such as PCR are available in reference laboratories. Prevention
There are no safe, available, approved vaccines against tularemia. However, vaccination research and development continues, with live attenuated vaccines being the most thoroughly researched and most likely candidate for approval. Sub-unit vaccine candidates, such as killed-whole cell vaccines, are also under investigation, however research has not reached a state of public use.Optimal preventative practices include limiting direct exposure when handling potentially infected animals by wearing gloves and face masks (importantly when skinning deceased animals). Treatment
If infection occurs or is suspected, treatment is generally with the antibiotics streptomycin or Gentamicin. Doxycycline was previously used. Gentamicin may be easier to obtain than streptomycin. There is also tentative evidence to support the use of quinolone antibiotics. Prognosis
Since the invention of antibiotics, the rate of death associated with tularemia has decreased from 60% to less than 4%. Epidemiology
Tularemia is most common in the Northern Hemisphere, including North America and parts of Europe and Asia. It occurs between 30º and 71º north latitude.In the United States, although records show that tularemia was never particularly common, incidence rates continued to drop over the course of the 20th century.
A gastrojejunocolic fistula is a disorder of the human gastrointestinal tract. It may form between the transverse colon and the upper jejunum after a Billroth II surgical procedure. (The Billroth procedure attaches the jejunum to the remainder of the stomach.) Fecal matter thereby passes improperly from the colon to the stomach, and causes halitosis.Patients may present with diarrhea, weight loss and halitosis as a result of fecal matter passing through the fistula from the colon into the stomach. == References ==