Ehrlichiosis: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:46, 5 December 2014

Bacterial infection of the family Anaplasmataceae common in mammals such as cattle, dogs, sheep, goats, and horses^[1]
Spread by the Lonestar tick (Amblyomma americanum)

Lone Star Tick (preserved
- Eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine and as far west as Iowa and Texas
- People often unaware they are bitten with case fatality rate of approximately 1.8%^[2]
- More severe disease in immunocompromised patients (HIV, Elderly, Asplenic)

Fever, chills, headache, malaise, myalgias, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, conjunctival injection
- Up to 60% of children may have a rash (30% of adults)

Peripheral blood smear^[3]
Obligate intracellular organism
- Smear shows intracellular parasites only 20% of time
PCR
- Most sensitive in first week of illness
Indirect Immunoflorescence Assay'
- Gold Standard
- Negative 85% of time in first 7 days of illness
- Compare 2 samples drawn at different times
- 4 fold increase in titers of second draw is positive
Enzyme Immunoassay
- Qualitative tests, not quantitative
Leukopenia, elevated transaminases, thrombocytopenia often present

Authors:

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 ==Background==
-*Bacterial infection of the family Anaplasmataceae common in mammals such as cattle, dogs, sheep, goats, and horses<ref>CDC. Ehrlichiosis. http://www.cdc.gov/ehrlichiosis.</re>
+*Bacterial infection of the family Anaplasmataceae common in mammals such as cattle, dogs, sheep, goats, and horses<ref>CDC. Ehrlichiosis. http://www.cdc.gov/ehrlichiosis.</ref>
 *Spread by the Lonestar tick (Amblyomma americanum) [[File:Lone Star Tick.jpg|thumb|Lone Star Tick (preserved]]
 **Eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine and as far west as Iowa and Texas