DOCSLIB.ORG

Survey of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma Species in White Tailed Deer and in Ticks by Real-Time Rt-Pcr/Pcr and Dna Sequencing Analysis

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Survey of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma Species in White Tailed Deer and in Ticks by Real-Time Rt-Pcr/Pcr and Dna Sequencing Analysis SURVEY OF EHRLICHIA AND ANAPLASMA SPECIES IN WHITE TAILED DEER AND IN TICKS BY REAL-TIME RT-PCR/PCR AND DNA SEQUENCING ANALYSIS by CHAKRAVARTHY KATRAGADDA B.S., Andhra University, 2007 A THESIS Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Diagonostic Medicine/Pathobiology College of Veterinary Medicine KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2011 Approved by: Major Professor Dr. Roman R. Ganta, M.S., Ph. D. Abstract Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species are rickettsial organisms which infect a variety of mammalian species. The organisms are transmitted from ticks and are maintained in reservoir hosts. Several pathogens have been identified in recent years as the causative agents for emerging infections in people. One of the primary reservoir hosts for the pathogens is the white tailed deer. In this study, 147 deer blood samples and 37 ticks were evaluated for the prevalence of Ehrlichia/Anaplasma species by TaqMan-based real time amplification assay and DNA sequence analysis. One hundred and thirteen (74%) samples tested positive with the Ehrlichia/Anaplasma genera-specific probe. Further analysis of the samples with the probes specific for human ehrlichiosis agents, E. chaffeensis and E. ewingii identified 4 (2.7%) and 7 (4.7%) positives, respectively. Test positives from 24 randomly selected samples were further evaluated by sequence analysis targeting to a 450 bp segment of 16S rRNA gene. All 24 samples were confirmed as positive for the Ehrlichia GA isolate # 4 (GenBank #U27104.1). DNAs from 37 pools of ticks collected from the white tailed deer were also evaluated. The TaqMan-based real time PCR assay with Anaplasma/Ehrlichia common probe identified 29 (78%) tick pools as positives whereas E. chaffeensis- and E. ewingii-specific probes identified three (8%) and one (3%) positives, respectively. The PCR and sequence analysis of tick samples identified Gram- negative bacteria species which included one endosymbiont of Rickettsia species (one tick pool), one Alcaligenes faecalis strain (three tick pools), five different Pseudomonas species (9 tick pools) and five different uncultured bacteria organisms (7 tick pools). Although the pathogenic potential of the white-tailed deer isolates of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia agents remains to be established, their high prevalence and the presence of human ehrlichiosis pathogens in white- tailed deer is similar to earlier findings. The high prevalence of the deer isolates of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species demonstrates the need for further assessment of the pathogenic potential of these organisms to people and domestic animals. (This study was supported by the grant #AI070908 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, USA.) TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………………………………………….v LIST OF TABLES………………………………………………………………………………..vi CHAPTER ONE: LITERATURE REVIEW ……………………………………………….…...1 CHAPTER TWO: Survey of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species in white tailed deer and ticks by real-time RT-PCR/PCR and DNA sequencing analysis…………………………………………19 REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………………......76 iv LIST OF FIGURES 1. The general life cycle of ticks…………………………………………………………….7 2. Comparision between number of tested positive for E.chaffeensis, E.ewingii and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma species specific probes in deer blood samples……………………30 3. Comparision between number of tested positive for E.chaffeensis, E.ewingii and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma species specific probes in tick samples…………………………...36 4. Amplified PCR products of 450 bp fragment 16S rRNA gene of Ehrlichia /Anaplasma species of deer blood samples resolved on 1% agarose gel…………………...................38 5. Amplified PCR products of 450 bp fragment 16S rRNA gene of Ehrlichia /Anaplasma species of tick samples resolved on 1% agarose gel…………………………..…..……..40 6. The BLAST search results of two sequences derived from deer blood samples………...44 7. Alignment of Anaplasma sps. WTD 81 and Ehrlichia sps. GA isolate No. 4…………...47 8. The BLAST search results of all 20 sequences derived from tick samples……………...49 9. Fluorescence emission peaks diagrams of DNA sequence analysis……………………..70 v LIST OF TABLES 1. Few examples of vectors and the pathogens transmitted by them………………………..3 2. Few examples of ticks and diseases in Dogs and Cats………………………….………..8 3. List of some Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species and diseases…………………………….18 4. Primers and Probes used in the Real time PCR and RT-PCR and PCR and RT-PCR assays…………………………………………………………………………………..25 5. Ct-values given by E.chaffeensis, E.ewingii and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma species specific probes for deer blood samples…………………………………………………………...31 6. Ct-values given by E.chaffeensis, E.ewingii and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma species specific probes for tick samples…………………………………………………………………..37 7. List of the bacterial species identified by the tick sample sequences in BLAST search...69 vi CHAPTER ONE LITERATURE REVIEW 1 Vector-borne diseases The diseases which spread through the means of vectors are classified under vector- borne diseases (1). The vector-borne diseases are caused by viruses, bacteria, protozoa and helminth parasites. The name ‘vector’ is referred to an organism which transmit a pathogenic organism to a host (1). Arthropods are the most common disease vectors for vector borne diseases. Among arthropod vectors, mosquitoes and ticks are the most common vectors (1). The common process through which the vector-borne pathogens are transmitted is by blood feeding of vectors on their hosts (2). For example, mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting agents of diseases such as malaria, dengu fever, West Nile virus (WNV), while they feed on vertebrate hosts. Many vector-borne diseases are known to have a significant impact on the health of humans for over centuries (3). For example, plague which is caused by a Gram-negative bacterium, Yersinia pestis killed a millions of people over centuries (5). The infected rodents and rodent fleas help in transmission of this disease causing agent from one host to another. The rate of transmission of vector-borne disease agents to their hosts depends on three different factors: the pathologic agent; its arthropod vector and vertebrate host (4). 2 Table 1: Examples of pathogens and their vectors Pathogenic organism Vectors Virus West Nile Virus Mosquitoes Rift Valley Fever Virus Mosquitoes Yellow Fever virus Mosquitoes Dengue virus Mosquitoes Bacteria Rickettsia akari House mouse mite Rickettsia mooseri Body louse Rickettsia prowazokii Body louse Rickettsia rickettsia Tick Rickettsia typhi Fleas Rickettsia tsutsugamuchi Rat Mite Ehrlichia spp. Tick Yersinia pestis Fleas Borrelia burgdorferi Tick Borrelia recurrentisa Body louse Protozoan Babesia microti Tick Babesia divergens Tick Plasmodium falciparum Mosquitoes Plasmodium malariae Mosquitoes Plasmodium ovale Mosquitoes Plasmodium vivax Mosquitoes 3 Leishmania braziliensis Sandflies Leishmania chagasi Sandflies Leishmania donovani Sandflies Leishmania infantum Sandflies Leishmania major Sandflies Leishmania mexicana Sandflies Leishmania tropica Sandflies Trypanosoma cruzi Kissing Bugs Trypanosoma brucei gambiense Tsetse Flies Trypanosoma brucei Tsetse Flies rhodesiense Helminth Wuchereria bancrofti Mosquitoes Brugia malayi Mosquitoes Mansonella ozzardi Blackflies Onchocerca volvulus Blackflies Mansonella perstans Biting Midges Mansonella streptocerca Biting Midges Loa loa Tabanid Flies 4 The majority of vector-borne disease pathogens survive in nature in invertebrate vectors and their vertebrate hosts. Some intermediary animal hosts (generally wild animals) often serve as reservoir of infection. A vector acquires a pathogen from an infected host and transmits to another vertebrate host during its blood feeding cycle (2). Vector-borne disease pathogens depend on their hosts for their survival. Some of the pathogens undergo various modifications in different stages in their life cycle. In order to complete their life cycle, some vector-borne disease agents must be transmitted from one host to another. For example, Plasmodium species requires mosquito for sexual reproduction; the gametocytes will transform to gametes in mosquitoes and gametes form zygote. Zygotes then transform to sporozoites, which are transferred to vertebrate host during mosquito blood feeding on another host. There are many factors that determine the prevalence of vector-borne diseases. The abundance of vectors and reservoir hosts plays a major role in the prevalence of vector-borne diseases. Local environmental conditions, especially temperature and humidity may also influence the rate of prevalence of a pathogen in a given geographical area (4). The patterns of a vector-borne disease occurrence cannot be predicted (4). Many researches worked on various vector-borne diseases to develop drugs, vaccines and also to establish the preventive measures against them. The military activities performed due to interferences of various countries in many parts of the world may also contribute for the emergence or re-emergence of vector borne diseases (6). Since 1970s, the incidence of vector- borne diseases in the world is mostly increasing or maintaining at constant level, but certainly not declining (3). Some of the examples include malaria, dengu, yellow fever, louse-borne typhus, plague, leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness, West Nile encephalitis, Lyme disease, Japanese encephalitis, Rift Valley fever, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (3). The reasons for the 5 increased
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Coxiella Burnetii
    SENTINEL LEVEL CLINICAL LABORATORY GUIDELINES FOR SUSPECTED AGENTS OF BIOTERRORISM AND EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES Coxiella burnetii American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Revised March 2016 For latest revision, see web site below: https://www.asm.org/Articles/Policy/Laboratory-Response-Network-LRN-Sentinel-Level-C ASM Subject Matter Expert: David Welch, Ph.D. Medical Microbiology Consulting Dallas, TX [email protected] ASM Sentinel Laboratory Protocol Working Group APHL Advisory Committee Vickie Baselski, Ph.D. Barbara Robinson-Dunn, Ph.D. Patricia Blevins, MPH University of Tennessee at Department of Clinical San Antonio Metro Health Memphis Pathology District Laboratory Memphis, TN Beaumont Health System [email protected] [email protected] Royal Oak, MI BRobinson- Erin Bowles David Craft, Ph.D. [email protected] Wisconsin State Laboratory of Penn State Milton S. Hershey Hygiene Medical Center Michael A. Saubolle, Ph.D. [email protected] Hershey, PA Banner Health System [email protected] Phoenix, AZ Christopher Chadwick, MS [email protected] Association of Public Health Peter H. Gilligan, Ph.D. m Laboratories University of North Carolina [email protected] Hospitals/ Susan L. Shiflett Clinical Microbiology and Michigan Department of Mary DeMartino, BS, Immunology Labs Community Health MT(ASCP)SM Chapel Hill, NC Lansing, MI State Hygienic Laboratory at the [email protected] [email protected] University of Iowa [email protected] Larry Gray, Ph.D. Alice Weissfeld, Ph.D. TriHealth Laboratories and Microbiology Specialists Inc. Harvey Holmes, PhD University of Cincinnati College Houston, TX Centers for Disease Control and of Medicine [email protected] Prevention Cincinnati, OH om [email protected] [email protected] David Welch, Ph.D.
    [Show full text]
  • Plague (Yersinia Pestis)
    Division of Disease Control What Do I Need To Know? Plague (Yersinia pestis) What is plague? Plague is an infectious disease of animals and humans caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Y. pestis is found in rodents and their fleas in many areas around the world. There are three types of plague: bubonic plague, septicemic plague and pneumonic plague. Who is at risk for plague? All ages may be at risk for plague. People usually get plague from being bitten by infected rodent fleas or by handling the tissue of infected animals. What are the symptoms of plague? Bubonic plague: Sudden onset of fever, headache, chills, and weakness and one or more swollen and painful lymph nodes (called buboes) typically at the site where the bacteria entered the body. This form usually results from the bite of an infected flea. Septicemic plague: Fever, chills, extreme weakness, abdominal pain, shock, and possibly bleeding into the skin and other organs. Skin and other tissues, especially on fingers, toes, and the nose, may turn black and die. This form usually results from the bites of infected fleas or from handling an infected animal. Pneumonic plague: Fever, headache, weakness, and a rapidly developing pneumonia with shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, and sometimes bloody or watery mucous. Pneumonic plague may develop from inhaling infectious droplets or may develop from untreated bubonic or septicemic plague after the bacteria spread to the lungs. How soon do symptoms appear? Symptoms of bubonic plague usually occur two to eight days after exposure, while symptoms for pneumonic plague can occur one to six days following exposure.
    [Show full text]
  • Early History of Infectious Disease 
    © Jones and Bartlett Publishers. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION CHAPTER ONE EARLY HISTORY OF INFECTIOUS 1 DISEASE Kenrad E. Nelson, Carolyn F. Williams Epidemics of infectious diseases have been documented throughout history. In ancient Greece and Egypt accounts describe epidemics of smallpox, leprosy, tuberculosis, meningococcal infections, and diphtheria.1 The morbidity and mortality of infectious diseases profoundly shaped politics, commerce, and culture. In epidemics, none were spared. Smallpox likely disfigured and killed Ramses V in 1157 BCE, although his mummy has a significant head wound as well.2 At times political upheavals exasperated the spread of disease. The Spartan wars caused massive dislocation of Greeks into Athens triggering the Athens epidemic of 430–427 BCE that killed up to one half of the population of ancient Athens.3 Thucydides’ vivid descriptions of this epidemic make clear its political and cultural impact, as well as the clinical details of the epidemic.4 Several modern epidemiologists have hypothesized on the causative agent. Langmuir et al.,5 favor a combined influenza and toxin-producing staphylococcus epidemic, while Morrens and Chu suggest Rift Valley Fever.6 A third researcher, Holladay believes the agent no longer exists.7 From the earliest times, man has sought to understand the natural forces and risk factors affecting the patterns of illness and death in society. These theories have evolved as our understanding of the natural world has advanced, sometimes slowly, sometimes, when there are profound break- throughs, with incredible speed. Remarkably, advances in knowledge and changes in theory have not always proceeded in synchrony. Although wrong theories or knowledge have hindered advances in understanding, there are also examples of great creativity when scientists have successfully pursued their theories beyond the knowledge of the time.
    [Show full text]
  • Veterinary Services Newsletter August 2017
    August 2017 Veterinary Services Newsletter August 2017 Wildlife Health Laboratory Veterinary Services Staff NALHN Certification: The Wildlife Health Laboratory has been working towards joining the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NALHN) in order to have ac- cess to all CWD testing kits. The commercial test kits for CWD are now restricted, and Branch Supervisor/Wildlife only NALHN approved laboratories have access to all the kits that are currently availa- Veterinarian: Dr. Mary ble. To be considered for the program, our laboratory must meet the ISO 17025 stand- Wood ards of quality control that assure our laboratory is consistently and reliably producing Laboratory Supervisor: accurate results. In addition, our laboratory will be regularly inspected by APHIS Veter- Hank Edwards inary Services, and we will be required to complete annual competency tests. Although we have been meeting most of the ISO standards for several years, applying to the Senior Lab Scientist: NAHLN has encouraged us to tighten many of our procedures and quality control moni- Hally Killion toring. We hope to have the application submitted by the middle of August and we have our first APHIS inspection in September. Senior Lab Scientist: Jessica Jennings-Gaines Brucellosis Lab Assistant: New CWD area for elk: The Wildlife Health Laboratory confirmed the first case of Kylie Sinclair CWD in an elk from hunt area 48. This animal was captured in elk hunt area 33 as part of the elk movement study in the Bighorns to study Brucellosis. She was found dead in Wildlife Disease Specialist: hunt area 48, near the very southeastern corner of Washakie County.
    [Show full text]
  • The Plague of Thebes, a Historical Epidemic in Sophocles' Oedipus
    Oedipus Rex) is placed in the fi rst half of the decade 430– The Plague 420 BC. The play has been labeled an analytical tragedy, meaning that the crucial events which dominate the play of Thebes, a have happened in the past (2,3). Oedipus Rex, apart from the undeniable literary and Historical Epidemic historic value, also presents signifi cant medical interest because the play mentions a plague, an epidemic, which in Sophocles’ was devastating Thebes, the town of Oedipus’ hegemony. Oedipus Rex Several sections, primarily in the fi rst third of the play, refer to the aforementioned plague; the epidemic, however, Antonis A. Kousoulis, is not the primary topic of the tragedy. The epidemic, in Konstantinos P. Economopoulos, fact, is mostly a matter that serves the theatrical economy Effi e Poulakou-Rebelakou, George Androutsos, by forming a background for the evolution of the plot. and Sotirios Tsiodras Given the potential medical interest of Oedipus Rex, we decided to adopt a critical perspective by analyzing the Sophocles, one of the most noted playwrights of the literary descriptions of the plague, unraveling its clinical ancient world, wrote the tragedy Oedipus Rex in the fi rst features, defi ning the underlying cause, and discussing half of the decade 430–420 BC. A lethal plague is described in this drama. We adopted a critical approach to Oedipus possible therapeutic options. The ultimate goals of our Rex in analyzing the literary description of the disease, study were to clarify whether the plague described in unraveling its clinical features, and defi ning a possible Oedipus Rex could refl ect an actual historical event, underlying cause.
    [Show full text]
  • Tick-Borne Disease Working Group 2020 Report to Congress
    2nd Report Supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services • Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health Tick-Borne Disease Working Group 2020 Report to Congress Information and opinions in this report do not necessarily reflect the opinions of each member of the Working Group, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or any other component of the Federal government. Table of Contents Executive Summary . .1 Chapter 4: Clinical Manifestations, Appendices . 114 Diagnosis, and Diagnostics . 28 Chapter 1: Background . 4 Appendix A. Tick-Borne Disease Congressional Action ................. 8 Chapter 5: Causes, Pathogenesis, Working Group .....................114 and Pathophysiology . 44 The Tick-Borne Disease Working Group . 8 Appendix B. Tick-Borne Disease Working Chapter 6: Treatment . 51 Group Subcommittees ...............117 Second Report: Focus and Structure . 8 Chapter 7: Clinician and Public Appendix C. Acronyms and Abbreviations 126 Chapter 2: Methods of the Education, Patient Access Working Group . .10 to Care . 59 Appendix D. 21st Century Cures Act ...128 Topic Development Briefs ............ 10 Chapter 8: Epidemiology and Appendix E. Working Group Charter. .131 Surveillance . 84 Subcommittees ..................... 10 Chapter 9: Federal Inventory . 93 Appendix F. Federal Inventory Survey . 136 Federal Inventory ....................11 Chapter 10: Public Input . 98 Appendix G. References .............149 Minority Responses ................. 13 Chapter 11: Looking Forward . .103 Chapter 3: Tick Biology, Conclusion . 112 Ecology, and Control . .14 Contributions U.S. Department of Health and Human Services James J. Berger, MS, MT(ASCP), SBB B. Kaye Hayes, MPA Working Group Members David Hughes Walker, MD (Co-Chair) Adalbeto Pérez de León, DVM, MS, PhD Leigh Ann Soltysiak, MS (Co-Chair) Kevin R.
    [Show full text]
  • Development of Diagnostic Assays for Melioidosis, Tularemia, Plague And
    University of Nevada, Reno Development of Diagnostic Assays for Melioidosis, Tularemia, Plague and COVID19 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Cellular and Molecular Biology By Derrick Hau Dr. David P. AuCoin / Dissertation Advisor December 2020 THE GRADUATE• SCHOOL We recommend that the dissertation prepared under our supervision by entitled be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Advisor Committee Member Committee Member Committee Member Graduate School Representative David W. Zeh, Ph.D., Dean Graduate School December 2020 i Abstract Infectious diseases are caused by pathogenic organisms which can be spread throughout communities by direct and indirect contact. Burkholderia pseudomallei, Francisella tularenisis, and Yersinia pestis are the causative agents of melioidosis, tularemia and plague, respectively. These bacteria pertain to the United States of America Federal Select Agent Program as they are associated with high mortality rates, lack of medical interventions and are potential agents of bioterrorism. The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has resulted in a global pandemic due to the highly infectious nature and elevated virulence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Proper diagnosis of these infections is warranted to administer appropriate medical care and minimize further spreading. Current practices of diagnosing melioidosis, tularemia, plague and COVID-19 are inadequate due to limited resources and the untimely nature of the techniques. Commonly, diagnosing an infectious disease is by the direct detection of the causative agent. Isolation by bacterial culture is the gold standard for melioidosis, tularemia and plague infections; detection of SAR-CoV-2 nucleic acid by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19.
    [Show full text]
  • Tularemia (CFSPH)
    Tularemia Importance Tularemia is a zoonotic bacterial disease with a wide host range. Infections are most prevalent among wild mammals and marsupials, with periodic epizootics in Rabbit Fever, lagomorphs and rodents, but clinical cases also occur in sheep, cats and other Deerfly Fever, domesticated species. A variety of syndromes can be seen, but fatal septicemia is Meat-Cutter’s Disease common in some species. In humans, tularemia varies from a localized infection to Ohara Disease, fulminant, life-threatening pneumonia or septicemia. Francis Disease Tularemia is mainly seen in the Northern Hemisphere, where it has recently emerged or re-emerged in some areas, including parts of Europe and the Middle East. A few endemic clinical cases have also been recognized in regions where this disease Last Updated: June 2017 was not thought to exist, such as Australia, South Korea and southern Sudan. In some cases, emergence may be due to increased awareness, surveillance and/or reporting requirements; in others, it has been associated with population explosions of animal reservoir hosts, or with social upheavals such as wars, where sanitation is difficult and infected rodents may contaminate food and water supplies. Occasionally, this disease may even be imported into a country in animals. In 2002, tularemia entered the Czech Republic in a shipment of sick pet prairie dogs from the U.S. Etiology Tularemia is caused by Francisella tularensis (formerly known as Pasteurella tularensis), a Gram negative coccobacillus in the family Francisellaceae and class γ- Proteobacteria. Depending on the author, either three or four subspecies are currently recognized. F. tularensis subsp. tularensis (also known as type A) and F.
    [Show full text]
  • Tularemia – Epidemiology
    This first edition of theWHO guidelines on tularaemia is the WHO GUIDELINES ON TULARAEMIA result of an international collaboration, initiated at a WHO meeting WHO GUIDELINES ON in Bath, UK in 2003. The target audience includes clinicians, laboratory personnel, public health workers, veterinarians, and any other person with an interest in zoonoses. Tularaemia Tularaemia is a bacterial zoonotic disease of the northern hemisphere. The bacterium (Francisella tularensis) is highly virulent for humans and a range of animals such as rodents, hares and rabbits. Humans can infect themselves by direct contact with infected animals, by arthropod bites, by ingestion of contaminated water or food, or by inhalation of infective aerosols. There is no human-to-human transmission. In addition to its natural occurrence, F. tularensis evokes great concern as a potential bioterrorism agent. F. tularensis subspecies tularensis is one of the most infectious pathogens known in human medicine. In order to avoid laboratory-associated infection, safety measures are needed and consequently, clinical laboratories do not generally accept specimens for culture. However, since clinical management of cases depends on early recognition, there is an urgent need for diagnostic services. The book provides background information on the disease, describes the current best practices for its diagnosis and treatment in humans, suggests measures to be taken in case of epidemics and provides guidance on how to handle F. tularensis in the laboratory. ISBN 978 92 4 154737 6 WHO EPIDEMIC AND PANDEMIC ALERT AND RESPONSE WHO Guidelines on Tularaemia EPIDEMIC AND PANDEMIC ALERT AND RESPONSE WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data WHO Guidelines on Tularaemia.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis Current Status
    IgeneX_v1_A4_A4_2011 27/04/2012 17:26 Page 49 Tick-borne Infectious Disease Human Babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis – Current Status Jyotsna S Shah,1 Richard Horowitz2 and Nick S Harris3 1. Vice President, IGeneX Inc., California; 2. Medical Director, Hudson Valley Healing Arts Center, New York; 3. CEO and President, IGeneX Inc., California, US Abstract Lyme disease (LD), caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi complex, is the most frequently reported arthropod-borne infection in North America and Europe. The ticks that transmit LD also carry other pathogens. The two most common co-infections in patients with LD are babesiosis and ehrlichiosis. Human babesiosis is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia including Babesia microti, Babesia duncani, Babesia divergens, Babesia divergens-like (also known as Babesia MOI), Babesia EU1 and Babesia KO1. Ehrlichiosis includes human sennetsu ehrlichiosis (HSE), human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME), human ewingii ehrlichiosis (HEE) and the recently discovered human ehrlichiosis Wisconsin–Minnesota (HWME). The resulting illnesses vary from asymptomatic to severe, leading to significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Clinical signs and symptoms are often non-specific and require the medical provider to have a high degree of suspicion of these infections in order to be recognised. In this article, the causative agents, geographical distribution, clinical findings, diagnosis and treatment protocols are discussed for both babesiosis and ehrlichiosis. Keywords Babesia, Ehrlichia, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, human, Borrelia Disclosure: Jyotsna Shah and Nick Harris are employees of IGeneX. Richard Horowitz is an employee of Hudson Valley Healing Arts Center. Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank Eddie Caoili, and Sohini Stone, for providing technical assistance.
    [Show full text]
  • Plague Surveillance Protocol
    December 2006 Plague Surveillance Protocol Plague may occur from an unintentional exposure to infected rodents and their fleas or through an intentional exposure such as a bioterrorism (BT) event. When necessary this protocol addresses unintentional and intentional exposures separately; otherwise the protocol applies to both situations. This protocol applies if a case of plague is highly suspected and does not apply to non-specific pulmonary, gastrointestinal, or rash illnesses. Provider Responsibilities 1) Report suspect or confirmed cases of plague immediately by phone to the local health department where the patient is a resident. Complete the provider (yellow) section of the WVEDSS form and forward to the local health department. 2) Notify the infection control practitioner immediately for hospitalized patients. Assure that the case-patient is appropriately isolated using standard and droplet precautions. 3) Assure that the laboratory forwards any isolates of Yersinia pestis to the Office of Laboratory Services for confirmation. The Office of Laboratory Services is available at (304)-558-3530 or on the web at: http://www.wvdhhr.org/labservices/index.cfm 4) Plan to collaborate with public health officials to identify close contacts of patients with pneumonic plague (unprotected face-to-face exposure within 3 feet of the case-patient), including health care workers. Laboratory Responsibilities 1) Report suspect or confirmed Yersinia pestis immediately to: a) The physician; b) The infection control practitioner; and c) The local health department. 2) Reports to the health department should include: Name, full address, date of birth, specimen source, test performed, test result and normal value. Fax a laboratory report or a completed ‘yellow card’ to the local health department.
    [Show full text]
  • Serogroup B Meningococcal Disease
    February 24, 1995 / Vol. 44 / No. 7 121 Serogroup B Meningococcal Disease — Oregon, 1994 124 Trends in Sexual Risk Behaviors Among High School Students — United States, 1990, 1991, and 1993 132 Update: Influenza Activity — New York and United States, 1994–95 Season 135 Notice to Readers Serogroup B Meningococcal Disease — Oregon, 1994 MeningococcalIn Oregon, the Diseaseincidence — ofContinued meningococcal disease has increased substantially, more than doubling from 2.2 cases per 100,000 persons in 1992 to 4.6 per 100,000 in 1994—the highest incidence in Oregon since 1943. This incidence was almost fivefold higher than recent estimates for the United States during 1989–1991 (approximately one case per 100,000 persons annually) (1 ). This report describes meningococcal dis- ease surveillance data from 1994 and summarizes epidemiologic and laboratory data on serogroup B meningococcal disease in Oregon during 1987–1994. During 1994, a total of 143 cases of meningococcal disease was reported to the State Health Division. In 124 cases, Neisseria meningitidis was isolated from a nor- mally sterile site (confirmed cases); in four cases, gram-negative diplococci were detected in specimens obtained from a normally sterile site or in persons who had classic symptoms after contact with a confirmed case (presumed cases). Charac- teristic symptoms (including petechial rash and hypotension) occurred in 14 cases; however, these cases were not culture confirmed (suspected cases). Of 115 isolates for which serogroup was known, 70 (61%) were serogroup B, 40 (35%) were sero- group C, four were serogroup Y, and one was serogroup W-135. When compared with 1992 and 1993, the serogroup-specific incidence in 1994 was higher for both sero- groups B and C.
    [Show full text]