Microbiology
Intracellular cell wall deficient organism. Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis.
Epidemiologic Risks
Tick bite. In Europe (PubMed) and China. Rodents are the source; can be found in migrating birds (PubMed), a good vector for spreading the pathogen
Can't grow it, diagnose with a PCR.
Syndromes
Presents with fever and thromboembolic events in at-risk patients may be asymptomatic in normal hosts.
From the review (PubMed): "All but one had ongoing or recent immune-suppressive treatment and a majority were splenectomized (8/11). Less than half of them recalled tick exposure. The most frequent symptoms were fever (11/11), localized pain afflicting muscles and/or joints (8/11), vascular and thromboembolic events (6/11), that is, deep vein thrombosis (4), transitory ischemic attacks (2), pulmonary embolism (1), and arterial aneurysm (1). Typical laboratory findings were elevated C-reactive protein, leukocytosis with neutrophilia, and anemia"
Often causes problems in people with hematologic or autoimmune diseases.
Treatment
Notes
Last update: 05/05/18