Ehrlichiosis
Material: | Antibody demonstration: 1 ml serum (through MVZ Diamedis) PCR: 1 ml EDTA blood (through Max-von-Pettenkofer-Institut) |
Methods: |
Ligandenassays → Immunfluoreszenzassay (IFA) Amplifikationsverfahren → Real-time-PCR | Reference range | IgG (A. phagocytophilum): < 1:64 titer |
Indication | Suspicion of Ehrlichiosis (see below) |
Please note | Ehrlichia are transmitted to humans by ticks. Newer case reports from Southern Germany are available. Incubation time is 12 – 14 days. High fever (> 38,5°C), ague, headaches, myalgia, arthralgia, liver- and kidney function disorders, occasionally maculopapular exanthema, typically leucopenia (< 3000/µl, often left shift) and thrombocytopenia (often < 100.000/µl). Most infections are however asymptomatic. Anaplasma (=Ehrlichia) phagocytophilum is responsible for the granulocytic Ehrlichiosis and Ehrlichia chaffeensis is responsible for monocytic Ehrlichiosis. Therapy of choice is doxycycline for 10 – 14 days.
As antibodies only increase after 1 – 4 weeks after initial onset of illness, serology is less suitable for the recognition of acute Ehrlichiosis but rather for late confirmation of diagnosis. Further information can be found here: www.rki.de |
External services | ja MVZ Diamedis Diagnostische Medizin Sennestadt |