All Posts Tagged With: "Anaplasma phagocytophilum"

Linda’s comments:  Thank you Eva for all you do to find some answers to this horrific disease…

This study illustrates that ticks in CR carry a wide variety of infectious pathogens.

A total of 549 subadult ticks of three species Ixodes
arboricola (75.0%), Ixodes ricinus (23.1%), and Haemaphysalis concinna
(1.8%) were collected from 20 species of birds (Passeriformes).
Rickettsiae were detected in 44.0% larvae and 24.5% nymphs of I.
arboricola

Link: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=21117995&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks

Excerpt:

Results-Sensitivity and specificity of the in-clinic ELISA for detection of
heartworm antigen (99.2% and 100%, respectively), antibodies against B
burgdorferi (98.8% and 100%, respectively), and antibodies against E canis
(96.2% and 100%, respectively) were similar to results for a similar
commercial ELISA. In samples obtained from dogs in the northeast and upper
Midwest of the United States, sensitivity and specificity of the in-clinic
ELISA for antibodies against Anaplasma spp were 99.1% and 100%,
respectively, compared with results for an immunofluorescence assay. Samples
from 2 dogs experimentally infected with the NY18 strain of A
phagocytophilum were tested by use of the in-clinic ELISA, and antibodies
against A phagocytophilum were detected by 8 days after inoculation.
Antibodies against Anaplasma platys in experimentally infected dogs
cross-reacted with the A phagocytophilum analyte. Coinfections were
identified in several of the canine serum samples. 
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-
The commercially available in-clinic ELISA could be used by veterinarians to
screen dogs for heartworm infection and for exposure to tick-borne
pathogens.

Link: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=21083370&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks

Excerpt:

Abstract The presence of antibodies toOccurrence of Spotted Fever Rickettsiosessera of 129 forest
workers from northeastern and southern Poland was assayed by indirect
immunofluorescence. Previous environmental studies revealed presence of
spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae in ticks collected from these areas.
Additionally, the workers were examinated for the presence of antibodies
specific to other tick-borne bacteria: Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella
spp., and B.
burgdorferi. 
The results of the studies have shown the presence of specific SFG
rickettsiae antibodies in 14.7% of tested forest workers, among them 78.9%
had species-specific antibodies to R. massiliae. Contrary to previous
detection R.
helvetica and R. slovaca in ticks collected in the environment of the
examined area, no species-specific antibodies to these species were detected
in studied workers. Antibodies to B. burgdorferi (44%) were found in forest
workers more often than antibodies to other tested pathogens. B. burgdorferi
was also the main component of coinfections. The most frequent confirmed
serologically coinfections were simultaneous infections with B. burgdorferi
and Bartonella spp. found in 10% of tested individuals. So far, SFG
rickettsiae infections have not been diagnosed in Poland; however, the
presence of the bacteria in ticks and presence of specific antibodies in
humans exposed to arthropods show the need for monitoring the situation. The
list of tick-borne pathogens is increasing, but knowledge about the
possibility of humans acquiring multipathogens infections after tick bite
still needs evaluation.

Article: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=20868431&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks

Excerpt:

Tick-borne pathogens such as Lyme borreliosis spirochaetes,
Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. cause
a great variety of diseases in animals and humans. Although their
importance with respect to emerging human diseases is increasing,
many issues about their ecology are still unclear. In spring
2007, 191 Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks were collected
from 99 birds of 11 species on a bird conservation island in the
Baltic Sea in order to test them for Borrelia spp., A.
phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. infections.
Identification of the pathogens was performed by polymerase chain
reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism and
sequence analysis. The majority of birds with ticks testing
positive were European robins and thrushes. Borrelia DNA was
detected in 14.1%, A. phagocytophilum in 2.6%, rickettsiae in
7.3% and Babesia spp. in 4.7% of the ticks. Co-infections with
different pathogens occurred in six ticks (3.1%). The fact that
11 ticks (five larvae, six nymphs) were infected with Borrelia
afzelii suggests that birds may, contrary to current opinion,
serve as reservoir hosts for this species. Among rickettsial
infections, we identified Rickettsia monacensis and Rickettsia
helvetica. As we detected five Rickettsia spp.
positive larvae and two birds carried more than one infected
tick, transmission of those pathogens from birds to ticks appears
possible.

Full article: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=20868431&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks

Excerpt:

Tick-borne pathogens such as Lyme borreliosis spirochaetes,
Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. cause
a great variety of diseases in animals and humans. Although their
importance with respect to emerging human diseases is increasing,
many issues about their ecology are still unclear. In spring
2007, 191 Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks were collected
from 99 birds of 11 species on a bird conservation island in the
Baltic Sea in order to test them for Borrelia spp., A.
phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. infections.
Identification of the pathogens was performed by polymerase chain
reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism and
sequence analysis. The majority of birds with ticks testing
positive were European robins and thrushes. Borrelia DNA was
detected in 14.1%, A. phagocytophilum in 2.6%, rickettsiae in
7.3% and Babesia spp. in 4.7% of the ticks. Co-infections with
different pathogens occurred in six ticks (3.1%). The fact that
11 ticks (five larvae, six nymphs) were infected with Borrelia
afzelii suggests that birds may, contrary to current opinion,
serve as reservoir hosts for this species. Among rickettsial
infections, we identified Rickettsia monacensis and Rickettsia
helvetica. As we detected five Rickettsia spp.
positive larvae and two birds carried more than one infected
tick, transmission of those pathogens from birds to ticks appears
possible.

Full article: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=20846013&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks

Excerpt:

Abstract From May until October 2007, a total of 658 Ixodes
ricinus ticks were collected off birds (189), rodents (273), and
vegetation (196) in a certain area of Middle Germany and
investigated for infection with Babesia spp., Anaplasma
phagocytophilum, and Rickettsia spp. Overall, 13.1% (86/658) of
the ticks were infected with at least one pathogen; co-infections
occurred in 0.6% (4/658).
Babesia spp. specific DNA was detected in 9.7% (64/658) of the
ticks, 1.4%
(9/658) were infected with A. phagocytophilum, and 2.6% (17/658)
harbored rickettsiae. At least two different Rickettsia species
were identified:
Rickettsia monacensis and Rickettsia helvetica. Our study
provides first interesting insights into the circulation and
co-circulation of several emerging pathogens not only in ticks
parasitizing birds and small mammals as potential reservoirs but
also in questing ticks in a single natural habitat.

Excerpt:

Because tick-borne diseases are becoming increasingly important throughout the world, monitoring their causative agents in wildlife may serve as a useful indicator of potential human exposure. We assessed the presence of known and putative zoonotic, tick-borne agents in four wildlife species in Mississippi. Animals were tested for exposure to or infection with Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, Borrelia lonestari, Rickettsia spp.,Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Francisella tularensis

. Whole blood and serum were tested from white-tailed deer (WTD; Odocoileus virginianus) and feral swine (Sus scrofa); serum was tested from raccoons (Procyon lotor) and opossums (Didelphis virginiana). We used polymerase chain reaction to detect all agents in blood, whereas an indirect fluorescent antibody assay was used to detect antibodies to E. chaffeensis, B. lonestari, and Rickettsia parkeri (spotted fever group rickettsiae) antigens in serum.

Full article: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=20090047&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks

Excerpt:

Overlapping geographic distributions of tick-borne disease agents
utilizing the same tick vectors are common, and coinfection of
humans, domestic animals, wildlife, and ticks with both Borrelia
burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum has been frequently
reported. This study was undertaken in order to evaluate the
prevalence of both B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (hereinafter
referred to as B.
burgdorferi) and A. phagocytophilum in several species of sciurid
rodents from northern California, USA. Rodents were either
collected dead as road-kills or live-trapped in four state parks
from 13 counties. Thirty-seven western gray squirrels (Sciurus
griseus), nine nonnative eastern gray squirrels (S.
carolinensis) and an eastern fox squirrel (S. niger), four
Douglas squirrels (Tamiasciurus douglasii), and two northern
flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) were tested by polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) and serology for evidence of coinfection. Of
the 14 individual S. griseus that were PCR-positive for B.
burgdorferi, two (14%) also were PCR-positive for A.
phagocytophilum and 11
(79%) had serologic evidence of A. phagocytophilum exposure. Two
of the four Douglas squirrels were PCR positive for B.
burgdorferi and seropositive to A.

Full article: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=20207197&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks

Excerpt:

Dogs and people are exposed to and susceptible to infection by
many of the same tick-borne bacterial pathogens in the order
Rickettsiales, including Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia
canis, E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, Rickettsia rickettsii, R.
conorii, and other spotted fever group rickettsiae. Recent
findings include descriptions of novel Ehrlichia and Rickettsia
species, recognition of the occurrence and clinical significance
of co-infection, and increasing awareness of Rhipicephalus
sanguineus-associated diseases. Newer molecular assays are
available, although renewed efforts to encourage their use are
needed. This review highlights the ecology and epidemiology of
these diseases, and proposes avenues for future investigation.
Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Full article: http://ukpmc.ac.uk/articles/PMC1490240;jsessionid=7D7D2D45FB70B5A24793992EDD921DFB.jvm4

Excerpt:

Abstract

A case of 65-year-old male is reported who presented with myalgias, headache, and fever. He subsequently developed myocarditis and was diagnosed to have anaplasmosis on peripheral blood smear. He was treated with doxycycline for 30 days. A coronary angiogram done after recovery showed normal epicardial arteries. The case illustrates the importance of a careful examination of the peripheral smear, with a high index of clinical suspicion, which led to prompt treatment and complete recovery of the patient

Ehrlichiosis, first discovered before 1910, has been recognized to cause human infection since 1986.1 It belongs to Rickettsiaceae family. Ehrlichiae are small, obligate intracellular bacteria that grow in cytoplasmic vacuoles to form clusters called morulae. Three distinct species cause human ehrlichiosis. E. chaffeensis predominantly affects the monocytes and is hence termed human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) while E. phagocytophilium, and E. ewingii cause human granulocytic ehrlichiosis.2E. phagocytophiliumE. equi are now recognized as the same organism and has been renamed Anaplasma phagocytophilum; the disease is now known as Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis (HGA). Both HME and HGA share similar clinical and laboratory features and are treated with the same antimicrobials.