Human granulocytic anaplasmosis

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) (previously called Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, or HGE^[1][2] ) is an infectious disease caused by several types of bacteria that are typically transmitted to humans by Ixodes scapularis, also known as the deer tick or black-legged tick. This is the same tick that can transmit Lyme disease and Babesiosis. Fortunately, early treatment with antibiotics is often successful.

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Symptoms

Symptoms may include fever, severe headache, muscle aches, chills and shaking, similar to the symptoms of influenza.

Terminology

HGA can be caused by several infectious agents, including Anaplasma phagocytophilum ^[3] (formerly known as Ehrlichia phagocytophila), Ehrlichia equi, and Ehrlichia ewingii ^[3]. HGA is clinically indistinguishable from infection caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis, but molecular techniques can distinguish these incidents from HGA. Anaplasmosis, caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum, causes symptoms of fever, headache, and myalgia, with GI symptoms occurring in less than half of the patients and a skin rash in less than 10% of patients. It is also characterized by thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and elevated serum transaminase levels in the majority of infected patients. The causative bacterium is transmitted to humans via ticks.^[4]

See also

• Ehrlichiosis (canine)
• Anaplasmosis

References

1. ^ Malik A, Jameel M, Ali S, Mir S (2005). "Human granulocytic anaplasmosis affecting the myocardium". J Gen Intern Med 20 (10): 958. PMID 16191146.
2. ^ http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/anaplasmosis/basics.html
3. ^ ^{a b} Olano J, Hogrefe W, Seaton B, Walker D (2003). "Clinical manifestations, epidemiology, and laboratory diagnosis of human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis in a commercial laboratory setting". Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 10 (5): 891-6. PMID 12965923.
4. ^ Murray, Patrick R.; Rosenthal, Ken S.; Pfaller, Michael A. Medical Microbiology, Fifth Edition. United States: Elsevier Mosby, 2005