This article explores the diagnosis and treatment of Anaplasmosis, a tick borne illness. It is part three of the four part series “Four Tickborne Diseases: Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis” .
Diagnosis can be challenging, as the tick bite may not have been noticed, clinical symptoms may be non-specific, and laboratory confirmation of infection can be problematic, especially early in the course of these diseases. At times clinicians may need to treat on clinical suspicion alone.
Written for the Curious (Non-Medical) Reader
ANAPLASMOSIS
By Stuart M. Caplen, MD
Anaplasmosis, also known as human granulocytic anaplasmosis, is a tickborne disease caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
Blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, in the eastern United States, and western blacklegged ticks, Ixodes pacificus, on the West Coast are the main causes of infection. Coinfections with other tickborne illness such as Lyme disease have been reported. Infections have occasionally been reported through blood transfusion and organ donation.[32]
Peak transmission is during June to November. Two peaks of increased case reporting usually occur, with the first peak during June–July and a smaller peak during October-November. ...
Read more about:
Signs and Symptoms of Early Illness of Anaplasmosis
Late Illness Symptoms of Anaplasmosis
Laboratory Findings in Anaplasmosis
Testing for Anaplasmosis
Treatment of Anaplasmosis
Read PART 1 - Lyme Disease | PART 2 - Ehrlichiosis | PART 3 - Anaplasmosis | PART 4 - Babesia
The conclusion to Part 1-4 of this article is available in the FibonacciLIBRARY
The CME version of this article is available for the medical community with an online CME test in the APP.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stuart M. Caplen, MD, FACEP, MSM
Dr. Caplen is a retired emergency medicine physician and former emergency department medical director, who also has a Master of Science in Management degree, and green belt certification in Lean/Six Sigma.
REFERENCES
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[31] Todd S et al., No Visible Dental Staining in Children Treated with Doxycycline for Suspected Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, J Pediatrics 2015;166:1246-51. Retrieved from: http://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(15)00135-3/pdf?ext=.pdf
[32] Anaplasmosis Transmission, CDC, last reviewed: January 11, 2019. Retrieved from:https://www.cdc.gov/anaplasmosis/transmission/index.html
[33] Anaplasmosis Epidemiology and Statistics, CDC, last reviewed: March 26, 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/anaplasmosis/stats/index.html
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[36] Anaplasmosis Treatment, CDC, last reviewed: January 11, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/anaplasmosis/healthcare-providers/treatment.html
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