Final answer:
A swab transport tube should be used to submit a specimen from an infected area of a cat for culturing, to maintain sample viability and ensure safety during transport to the laboratory.
Step-by-step explanation:
To submit a specimen collected from an infected area of an 8-year-old domestic shorthair cat for culturing, one should use a swab transport tube. This is consistent with bacteriological culture methods which involve obtaining a sterile swab and placing it in a suitable transport medium to maintain the viability of the sample during transport to the laboratory. It's important to ensure that the specimen is transported to the laboratory as quickly as possible to preserve the viability of the organism being cultured, such as B. pertussis.
Transport media are essential to protect the specimen from environmental stresses and to prevent the overgrowth of commensal bacteria that may be present. Additionally, the special handling required for contagious infections, such as tularemia, further underscores the importance of using appropriate transport devices to ensure safety and sample integrity.