Ehrlichiosis–a disease of animals and humans.
Abstract: Ehrlichiae are one of several kinds of obligate intracellular bacteria. Taxonomically, they are grouped with rickettsiae, but they can be distinguished by their unique tropism for circulating leukocytes. Ehrlichia canis causes a pancytopenia in dogs that becomes chronic if untreated. Certain breeds develop severe infections, characterized by fever, anorexia, dramatic weight loss, marked pancytopenia, anemia, peripheral edema, and hemorrhage. Ehrlichia risticii, a recently discovered species, is the cause of a serious diarrheal disease of horses. Other species of ehrlichiae have been documented as being veterinary pathogens. Recent data indicate that E. canis or a closely related species causes an acute febrile illness in humans. Clinically, the disease is similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, except that most patients do not have a rash. Human ehrlichiosis appears to be tickborne and is prevalent primarily in the southern Atlantic and south-central states. A mild from of ehrlichiosis has also been documented.
Publication Date: 1990-04-01 PubMed ID: 2181027DOI: 10.1093/infdis/161.4.609Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Review
- Diagnosis
- Disease
- Disease control
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Management
- Disease Outbreaks
- Disease Prevalence
- Disease Surveillance
- Disease Transmission
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Infection
- Infectious Disease
- Public Health
- Tick-Borne Diseases
- Vector-borne disease
- Veterinary Medicine
- Zoonotic Diseases
Summary
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This research article discusses the disease Ehrlichiosis, which affects both animals and humans. The primary agent causing the disease is Ehrlichiae, a type of bacteria that nest in circulating leukocytes. Several variations of the disease exist in animals, such as those affecting dogs and horses, with symptoms ranging from marked pancytopenia to severe infections. Recent evidence suggests that humans can also be affected, exhibiting symptoms similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Understanding Ehrlichiosis
Ehrlichiosis is a disease caused by the Ehrlichia bacteria, which belongs to the taxonomic group of obligate intracellular bacteria – types of bacteria that can only survive within the cells of a host organism. Ehrlichiae share some similarities with Rickettsiae (another bacteria group), but their distinguishing feature lies in their tropism for circulating leukocytes; that is, their preference to inhabit white blood cells.
- The study reviews the different types of Ehrlichia that cause diseases in animals and humans.
- For instance, Ehrlichia canis can result in pancytopenia (a reduction in the number of red and white blood cells as well as platelets) in dogs. If this is left untreated, it could lead to chronic conditions.
- Certain breeds of dogs are more susceptible to developing severe infections, which are marked by a range of symptoms, including fever, anorexia, considerable weight loss, marked pancytopenia, anemia, swelling in the peripheral regions, and hemorrhage (bleeding).
- Another strain, Ehrlichia risticii, has been found to cause a serious diarrheal condition in horses.
- Other species of Ehrlichia have also been found to be pathogenic in animals.
Ehrlichiosis in Humans
Besides animals, humans are also susceptible to this bacterial infection.
- Recent studies suggest that E. canis or a related species can cause an acute febrile (feverish) illness in humans. The symptoms resemble those of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, another bacterial disease, but most patients do not exhibit a rash, differentiating the two conditions.
- Human Ehrlichiosis seems to be transmitted by ticks and is primarily prevalent in the southern Atlantic and south-central states of the U.S.
- There is also evidence of a milder strain of Ehrlichiosis, though further details are not presented in the abstract.
Cite This Article
APA
McDade JE.
(1990).
Ehrlichiosis–a disease of animals and humans.
J Infect Dis, 161(4), 609-617.
https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/161.4.609 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Dog Diseases / epidemiology
- Dog Diseases / microbiology
- Dogs
- Ehrlichia / ultrastructure
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Humans
- Leukocytes / microbiology
- Rickettsiaceae Infections / epidemiology
- Rickettsiaceae Infections / microbiology
- Rickettsiaceae Infections / veterinary
- United States / epidemiology
Citations
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