What is Ehrlichia chaffeensis PCR?
What is Ehrlichia chaffeensis PCR?
Ehrlichia chaffeensis DNA, Real-Time PCR – Ehrlichia chaffeensis DNA PCR is a highly sensitive method to detect the presence of ehrlichia chaffeensis DNA in clinical specimens. The diagnosis of ehrlichia chaffeensis infection should not rely solely upon the result of PCR assay.
What cells do Ehrlichia chaffeensis infect?
E. chaffeensis causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis and is known to infect monocytes. It has also been known to infect other cell types such as lymphocytes, atypical lymphocytes, myelocytes, and neutrophils, but monocytes appear to best harbor the infection. E.
How is ehrlichiosis diagnosed?
Your doctor diagnoses ehrlichiosis with a careful history and physical examination asking about tick exposure, tick bites or maybe the rash. Blood tests to confirm the presence of the bacterium causing ehrlichiosis and other lab abnormalities may be necessary such as blood counts and liver tests.
How is Ehrlichia chaffeensis transmitted?
Most people get ehrlichiosis from the bite of an infected tick. Ehrlichia chaffeensis and E. ewingii are transmitted by the lone star tick (Ambylomma americanum) [PDF – 2 pages], found primarily in the southcentral and eastern U.S. Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis is spread by the blacklegged tick (I.
What are the symptoms of Ehrlichia?
Signs and Symptoms
- Fever, chills.
- Severe headache.
- Muscle aches.
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite.
- Confusion.
- Rash (more common in children)
How is ehrlichiosis treated?
Treatment
- Doxycycline is the treatment of choice for ehrlichiosis and all other tickborne rickettsial diseases.
- Doxycycline is most effective at preventing severe complications from developing if it is started within the first week of illness.
What disease does Ehrlichia chaffeensis cause?
If HME is left untreated, life-threatening symptoms, such as kidney failure and respiratory insufficiency, may develop in some cases. Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis is caused by the bacteria Ehrlichia chaffeensis (or E. chaffeensis).
Does ehrlichiosis ever go away?
Ehrlichiosis is a bacterial illness that causes flu-like symptoms that include fever and aches. It can cause very serious complications if left untreated. But it can be cured with prompt treatment.
When do you treat Ehrlichia?
Patients with suspected ehrlichiosis should be treated with doxycycline until at least 3 days after the subsidence of fever and until evidence of clinical improvement, typically 5-7 days.
Do you need PCR to diagnose Ehrlichia chaffeensis?
The diagnosis of ehrlichia chaffeensis infection should not rely solely upon the result of PCR assay. A positive result should be considered in conjunction with clinical presentation and additional established clinical tests.
What kind of DNA does Ehrlichia chaffeensis have?
Positive results indicate presence of specific DNA from Ehrlichia chaffeensis, E ewingii, E muris eauclairensis organism, or Anaplasma phagocytophilum and support the diagnosis of ehrlichiosis or anaplasmosis.
Which is a positive result for Ehrlichia / Anaplasma?
Since DNA of E ewingii is indistinguishable from that of E canis by this rapid PCR assay, a positive result for E ewingii/canis indicates the presence of DNA from either of these 2 organisms.
Is there a blood test for Ehrlichia eauclairensis?
There is not currently a commercially available specific serologic test for E muris eauclairensis, but cross-reactivity with the other Ehrlichia species by serology may be detected. PCR techniques allow direct detection of pathogen-specific DNA from patients’ whole blood and is the preferred method for detection during the acute phase of illness.