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- è: Obligate intracellular gram - bacteria; morulae (intracellular cluster) on Wright/Giemsa stain
- 2 äž»èŠ human pathogens:
- HME (Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis): Ehrlichia chaffeensis â Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum) â SE/SC USA; monocytes targeted
- HGA (Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis): Anaplasma phagocytophilum â Ixodes tick (same as Lyme) â NE/Midwest USA, Europe, Asia; PMNs targeted
- Other: E. ewingii (granulocyte, immunocompromise), E. muris-like (Midwest USA), E. canis (rare human)
- èšåº: æ¥ fever + é ç + myalgia + çŽ
ç¹ (less than rickettsial, < 30%) + LAP
- Labs (classic triad): leukopenia + thrombocytopenia + â AST/ALT â look for this pattern!
- Severe: HME > HGA â multi-organ failure, ARDS, encephalopathy, DIC, septic shock, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)
- High-risk: elderly, immunocompromise, splenectomy
- Dx:
- PCR of whole blood (sensitive in acute, gold standard)
- Peripheral blood smear for morulae (less sensitive â see in PMN for HGA, monocyte for HME)
- Serology IFA paired
- Treatment:
- Doxycycline 100 mg PO/IV bid à 5-7d (preferred â even children with empirical suspicion)
- å€§å€ respond within 24-48 hr defervescence
- Severe: IV doxy
- Rifampin alt (pregnancy / doxy-allergy)
- Co-infection with Lyme + Babesia common (same Ixodes tick â âtick-borne disease panelâ)
1ïžâ£ 现èåž
- Ehrlichia + Anaplasma â order Rickettsiales but distinct family (Anaplasmataceae)
- Obligate intracellular, replicate within phagosomes of host leukocytes
- Morulae = clusters of bacteria visible by Wright/Giemsa stain in monocytes (HME) or PMN (HGA)
- Tick transmission similar to Rickettsia (within hours-day attachment)
Targeted Cells
- E. chaffeensis â monocytes (HME)
- E. ewingii â granulocytes (immunocompromise, similar to HGA)
- A. phagocytophilum â granulocytes (HGA)
2ïžâ£ Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (HME) â E. chaffeensis
Vector + Geography
- Amblyomma americanum (Lone Star tick) â only this tick transmits
- å°ç: SE / SC USA (TX, OK, MO, AR, TN, NC, VA, GA)
- Reservoir: white-tailed deer
- Season: April-September peak
èšåº
- 1-2 wk post-bite
- æ¥ fever + headache + myalgia
- Rash åš 30% (often petechial)
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain
- LAP, hepatosplenomegaly possible
- Severe in elderly, immunocompromise, asplenic â multi-organ, ARDS, DIC, HLH, encephalopathy
- Mortality 3% in immunocompetent; é« in immunocompromise
Lab
- Leukopenia + thrombocytopenia + â LFT â classic triad
- Hyponatremia common
- CSF (if neurologic): mononuclear pleocytosis
3ïžâ£ Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis (HGA) â A. phagocytophilum
Vector + Geography
- Ixodes scapularis (NE/Midwest USA) â same as Lyme!
- I. pacificus (W USA)
- I. ricinus (Europe)
- I. persulcatus (Asia, Russia)
- Reservoirs: white-footed mouse, deer
æµè¡ç
åž
- Increasing case numbers â USA NE/Midwest endemic
- ~ 5000+ cases/yr USA (rising)
- Co-infection with Lyme + Babesia common (same Ixodes tick)
èšåº
- Similar to HME but generally milder
- Rash less common (< 10%)
- Severe in elderly + immunocompromise
- Bone marrow suppression
- AKI, hepatitis
Lab
- Same triad: leukopenia + thrombocytopenia + â LFT
- Morulae in PMN on Wright stain (50%+ sensitivity, classic clue)
4ïžâ£ 蚺æ·
A. PCR (Whole Blood)
- Gold standard for acute diagnosis
- High sensitivity in first week (before antibody)
- Species-specific
- Available at major labs / CDC
B. Peripheral Blood Smear
- Morulae â clusters of bacteria within leukocytes
- HGA: PMN cytoplasm (high sensitivity 50-80%)
- HME: monocyte cytoplasm (low sensitivity ~ 10%)
- Look during fever phase
- Wright/Giemsa stain
- Pathognomonic when seen
C. Serology
- IFA paired (acute + convalescent 2-3 wk)
- 4-fold rise diagnostic
- Cross-reactivity between species
- Retrospective (slow)
D. Lab Pattern Recognition
- Leukopenia + thrombocytopenia + â LFT + hyponatremia + tick exposure â empirical doxycycline
5ïžâ£ æ²»ç
- Doxycycline 100 mg PO/IV bid à 5-7d (preferred)
- All ages including children (2018 IDSA/AAP â safe short course)
- Rifampin 300 mg PO bid à 7-10d (pregnant, doxy-allergy)
- Defervescence within 24-48 hr is diagnostic
- åŽé / encephalopathy: IV doxycycline + supportive
- Donât delay for confirmation
Failure or Co-infection
- If 48 hr no response â consider co-infection (Babesia! â doxy ineffective), antibody-negative phase, or alternative dx
- Check babesiosis (smear, PCR) â same tick
6ïžâ£ Co-infections (Ixodes Tick)
- HGA + Lyme common
- HGA + Babesia less common but severe in asplenic
- Tick-borne disease panel PCR (Lyme + HGA + Babesia + B. miyamotoi + Powassan virus)
- Empirical management may need atovaquone + azithromycin (Babesia) + doxy (HGA + Lyme)