WOS: 000464106600016Objective: Tularemia was first detected in Thrace region in our country and the outbreaks continued in the region over the following years. The fact that the agent has been identified in mice around Kaynarca in 2012 suggests the disease poses a risk for our region. Aim of this study was to investigate tularemia incidence and presence of Francisella tularensis in streams/mains water in a risky region of Thrace. Methods: In this study, seropositivity for tularemia was investigated in 13 villages, and 1 town in risky areas of the Thrace region. In January 2016, blood was drawn from 746 people and tularemia microagglutination tests were applied. Seropositivity was not detected. In December, 464 of 746 people were reached. Seroconversion was not observed. In addition, culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedures were applied to specimens collected from mains water and streams in 13 villages and 1 town. Results: The causative agent wasn't isolated from the cultures but F. tularensis DNAs were detected by PCR method in 2 stream, and 3 mains water samples. One of the streams passed through the village of Celaliye, which was very close to Kaynarca, where tularemia cases were seen in the past. The other was farther, passing through the Kavakli town in which no cases has been reported. The mains water which were positive were from Hamzabey, Ceylankoy, and Tatarkoy villages located around Kaynarca. Molecular examination after chlorination was repeated in the water sources in which positivity was detected, and it was seen that the agent was eliminated. Conclusions: In this study, incidence was calculated as zero, although the causative agent was found in the water. Although no seropositivity was detected, the detection of the agent by PCR in 5 water samples showed that the agents in the nature could reach the water resources. It has been observed that surveillance studies in risky areas could be effective in preventing possible outbreaks
