TABLE 1.

Sample and method overview to directly identify Francisella in tissues collected from hare carcasses.

Sample-nr.	Organ	Sample treatment	PCR	Culture	ESI-MS
18T0118	Spleen	121°C, 30 min	Positive	Positive	Positive
16T0017	Liver	121°C, 30 min	Positive	Positive	Negative
18T0123	Liver	121°C, 30 min	Positive	Negative	Negative
18T0124	Spleen	121°C, 30 min	Positive	Negative	Negative
16T1200	Spleen	121°C, 30 min	Negative	Negative	Negative
		untreated			Negative
16T1202	Spleen	121°C, 30 min	Negative	Negative	Negative
		untreated			Negative
16T1188	Spleen	121°C, 30 min	Negative	Negative	Negative
		untreated			Negative
16T1203	Liver	121°C, 30 min	Negative	Negative	Negative
		untreated			Negative
16T1205	Liver	121°C, 30 min	Negative	Negative	Negative
		untreated			Negative
16T1215	Liver	121°C, 30 min	negative	Negative	Negative
		Untreated			Negative

A total of four PCR-positive Francisella samples, derived from three individual hare carcasses were used. As negative controls, three PCR and cultivation-negative spleen and liver tissues were investigated. From every negative tested specimen, one part was heat inactivated, while the other part was left untreated.