TY - JOUR
T1 - Human disease in Europe caused by a granulocytic Ehrlichia species
AU - Petrovec, Miroslav
AU - Furlan, Stanka Lotric
AU - Zupanc, Tatjana Avsic
AU - Strle, Franc
AU - Brouqui, Philippe
AU - Roux, Veronique
AU - Dumler, J. Stephen
PY - 1997/6
Y1 - 1997/6
N2 - Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) was recently described in North America. It is caused by an Ehrlichia species closely related to Ehrlichia phagocytophila and Ehrlichia equi, recognized to infect mostly ruminants and horses, respectively. The vector in North America is the tick Ixodes scapularis, which is also the vector of the Lyme disease agent, Borrelia burgdorferi. Previous serologic studies in patients with a diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis indicate that HGE may exist in Europe. We report the first documented case of HGE in Europe. The diagnosis was established by seroconversion to E. equi and the HGE agent and by PCR with sequence analysis of the gene encoding the HGE agent 16S rRNA. Interestingly, the patient presented with a self-limited but moderately severe illness. Thus, European physicians need to be aware that HGE exists in Europe and that the diagnosis should be considered in febrile patients with tick bites in areas where Lyme disease is endemic.
AB - Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) was recently described in North America. It is caused by an Ehrlichia species closely related to Ehrlichia phagocytophila and Ehrlichia equi, recognized to infect mostly ruminants and horses, respectively. The vector in North America is the tick Ixodes scapularis, which is also the vector of the Lyme disease agent, Borrelia burgdorferi. Previous serologic studies in patients with a diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis indicate that HGE may exist in Europe. We report the first documented case of HGE in Europe. The diagnosis was established by seroconversion to E. equi and the HGE agent and by PCR with sequence analysis of the gene encoding the HGE agent 16S rRNA. Interestingly, the patient presented with a self-limited but moderately severe illness. Thus, European physicians need to be aware that HGE exists in Europe and that the diagnosis should be considered in febrile patients with tick bites in areas where Lyme disease is endemic.
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U2 - 10.1128/jcm.35.6.1556-1559.1997
DO - 10.1128/jcm.35.6.1556-1559.1997
M3 - Article
C2 - 9163481
AN - SCOPUS:0030925979
SN - 0095-1137
VL - 35
SP - 1556
EP - 1559
JO - Journal of clinical microbiology
JF - Journal of clinical microbiology
IS - 6
ER -