Ehrlichioses - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Ehrlichioses Definitions

Ehrlichioses is a tick-borne disease. The human ehrlichioses are considered emerging zoonotic diseases. Ehrlichioses is a bacterial infection that is spread by ticks. In humans the disease is caused by EHRLICHIA CHAFFEENSIS and in dogs it is caused by E. canis, and in horses it is caused by E. equi. Ehrlichioses diseases that can be passed from animals to man.

There are two distinct forms of illness:

• human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME)
• human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE)

Ehrlichioses diseases that can be passed from animals to man. The agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) is a species closely related to Ehrlichia equi and Ehrlichia phagocytophila and is transmitted by Ixodes scapularis.

Ehrlichioses Causes

Human monocytic ehrliehiosis is caused by Ehrlichia chaileensis and an agent similar to the veterinary microbe E. equi, while E. phagocytophilia causes human granulocytic ehrlichiosis. Over several decades, veterinary pathogens that caused disease in dogs, cattle, sheep, goats, and horses were identified. Ehrlichiosis may be characterized by an acute febrile illness with nonspecific flu-like symptoms and is often associated with leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated serum hepatic transaminase levels.

Ehrlichiosis may be caused by several bacterial species in the genus. The disease occurs primarily in the southeastern and south central regions of the country and is primarily transmitted by the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum.

Ehrlichioses Symptoms

Symptoms of ehrlichioses generally come in groups. Tick bites may be the first noticeable symptom. Ehrlichioses begin in between 1 to 2 weeks after a tick bite.

The other symptoms of the ehrlichioses may be included:

• fever
• rash
• coma
• vomiting
• headache
• myalgias
• diarrhea
• body aches
• anorexia
• abdominal pain
• sore throat
• loss of appetite
• abnormal blood clotting

Ehrlichioses Treatments

A majority of documented cases require hospitalization and a small percentage die.

Prophylactic may be used of antibiotics after a tick bite is not recommended.

Doxycycline is the drug of choice for the treatment of ehrlichioses in both adults and children.

Treatment is usually started based on the person's symptoms. Tetracycline and chloramphenicol are all effective against ehrlichioses.