RESEARCH PAPER
Cardiac complications in tularemia – not so rare? A case report and literature review
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1
Student Scientific Association at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum
2
Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital in Krakow
3
Department of Infectious Diseases, Jagiellonian University Medical College
Submission date: 2026-07-13
Final revision date: 2026-09-20
Acceptance date: 2026-10-16
Online publication date: 2026-10-21
Corresponding author
Jacek Czepiel
Department of Infectious Diseases, Jagiellonian University Medical College
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ABSTRACT
Tularemia is a rare zoonotic disease, caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Francisella tularensis. Among cases reported outside of epidemiological outbreaks, pathogen transmission to humans is significantly associated with tick bites. The onset is abrupt, presenting as fever, chills, general malaise, myalgia, and headache, after which one of the typical disease forms develops. In rare cases, tularemia may cause cardiac complications: pericarditis, endocarditis, or myocarditis. This paper presents a case of a patient who developed myocarditis as a complication of tularemia, with literature review regarding 3 other cases described till now. Additionally, the report highlights diagnostic pitfalls, particularly the delayed recognition of tularemia in the presence of a more severe cardiac condition that initially appeared unrelated.