DISEASE SUMMARY PAGE

Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis in Bears and Lagomorphs:

Summary Information

Diseases / List of Bacterial Diseases / Disease summary
Alternative Names
  • Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA)
  • Human anaplasmosis
Disease Agents

Anaplasma (previously Ehrlichia ) phagocytophilum. (J1.40.w7, J112.27.w1)

Infectious Agent(s) Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Tenericutes (Lacking cell-walls) (Division))
Non-infectious Agent(s) --
Physical Agent(s) --
General Description
In Humans
  • Human granulocytic ehrlichosis manifests as a moderate to severe febrile illness. As well as fever (at least 37.6 °C), headache, myalgia, chills and general malaise are the most commonly noted clinical features. (J1.38.w3, J416.25.w1)
  • Clinical laboratory findings in the later stages include variable leucopaenia, anaemia and thrombocytopaenia. (J1.38.w3, J416.25.w1)
Transmission
  • Transmitted by ticks. (J1.38.w3, J1.40.w7, J416.25.w1)
    • ixodes dentatus (which does not bite humans) and Ixodes dammani are competent vectors. (J91.68.w1)
Further Information
In Bears
  • Antibodies to human granulocytic ehrlichosis (HGE), Ehrlichia sp. were detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay in 81/381 (21%) sera from free-ranging Ursus americanus - American black bear in Pennsylvania, USA, November 1997. (J1.38.w3)
In Lagomorphs
  • On Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, USA, about 66% of Sylvilagus floridanus - Eastern Cottontail rabbit sampled were found to be seropositive by indirect fluorescent antibody test, while evidence of active infection was found in about 27% (by PCR amplification from blood or blood and spleen). (J91.68.w1)
Associated Techniques
Host taxa groups /species
Disease Author Dr Debra Bourne MA VetMB PhD MRCVS (V.w5

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