Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by the gram-negative coccobacillus Francisella tularensis, a Biosafety Level 3 pathogen and potential agent of bioterrorism. We describe 2 cases of perigenital ulcer disease caused by Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica in Manitoba, Canada. These cases caused inadvertent exposure among laboratory personnel.
Keywords: Canada; Francisella tularensis; bacteria; genital ulcer disease; laboratory-acquired infection; tick-borne infections; ticks; tularemia; vector-borne infections.