Ehrlichia

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Ehrlichia

Ehrlichia (pronounced: er-lik-ee-uh) is a genus of rickettsiales bacteria that is transmitted to vertebrates by ticks. These bacteria are known to cause disease in humans and animals.

Etymology

The genus Ehrlichia is named after the German microbiologist Paul Ehrlich, who made significant contributions to the fields of hematology and immunology.

Diseases caused by Ehrlichia

Ehrlichia bacteria are responsible for several diseases in humans and animals, including:

  • Ehrlichiosis: This is a general term for several bacterial diseases that affect animals and humans. Human ehrlichiosis is a disease caused by one of several Ehrlichia species, transmitted through the bite of an infected tick.

Transmission

Ehrlichia bacteria are primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected tick. The most common ticks to transmit Ehrlichia include the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis).

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis of Ehrlichia infections can be challenging and is usually based on a combination of clinical signs, history of tick exposure, and diagnostic tests such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or serology.

Treatment typically involves the use of antibiotics such as doxycycline. Early treatment is crucial to prevent severe disease or complications.

Prevention

Prevention strategies for Ehrlichia infections primarily involve avoiding tick bites through the use of tick repellents, regular tick checks, and prompt removal of attached ticks.

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski