F. tularensis is a Biosafety level 2 pathogen, a designation that requires technologists to wear gloves and to work within a biological safety cabinet when handling clinical material that potentially harbors this agent. Because tularemia is one of the most common laboratory-acquired infections, most microbiologists do not attempt to work with infectious material from suspected patients. We recommend that specimens be sent to reference laboratories or state or other public health laboratories that are equipped to handle Francisella. The organisms, which grow slowly, requiring 2 to 4 days for maximal colony formation, are weakly catalase positive and oxidase negative. Some strains may require up to 2 weeks to develop visible colonies.
Colonies are transparent, mucoid, and easily emulsified.
E.J. Baron, L.R. Peterson, and S.M. Finegold, editors, Moseby-Year Book, Inc., 1994. Bordetella Bordetella sp. are obligate parasites of animals and humans, residing on the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. Bordetellae seem to be the only bacteria that adhere only to ciliated mucosal cells. Child with whooping cough. Except for B. avium, all species can cause respiratory disease in humans, although the disease associated with B. pertussis, 'pertussis' or 'whooping cough,' is most severe.