human monocytic ehrlichiosis definition of human monocytic ehrlichiosis in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

ehrlichiosis (ârlĭkēō`sĭs), any of several diseases caused by rickettsia of the genus Ehrlichia. Ehrlichiosis is transmitted by ticks. Both human forms tend to develop about nine days after a tick bite. Symptoms include severe headache and chills and low white blood cell and platelet counts. The lack of a rash distinguishes them from Rocky Mountain spotted fever Rocky Mountain spotted fever, infectious disease caused by a rickettsia . The germ is harbored by wild rodents and other animals and is carried by infected ticks that attach themselves to humans.
..... Click the link for more information. and Lyme disease Lyme disease, a nonfatal bacterial infection that causes symptoms ranging from fever and headache to a painful swelling of the joints. The first American case of Lyme's characteristic rash was documented in 1970 and the disease was first identified in a cluster at
..... Click the link for more information. ; lack of upper respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms distinguishes them from influenza influenza or flu, acute, highly contagious disease caused by a virus; formerly known as the grippe. There are three types of the virus, designated A, B, and C, but only types A and B cause more serious contagious infections.
..... Click the link for more information. . Many cases are mild, and all are treatable with antibiotics (tetracycline and doxycycline); however, ehrlichiosis can be fatal in some cases when diagnosis and treatment are delayed.

It was known for years that certain species (some believe them to be variant strains of a single species) can cause disease in animals, for example E. canis in dogs and E. phagocytophila in sheep and cattle. In the mid-1980s human ehrlichiosis was first recognized. The causative agent was found to be E. chaffeensis. This form is now known as human monocytic ehrlichiosis. In 1990 another form of the disease, human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, was identified. The Ehrlichia organisms invade various white blood cells (see blood blood, fluid pumped by the heart that circulates throughout the body via the arteries, veins, and capillaries (see circulatory system ; heart ). An adult male of average size normally has about 6 quarts (5.6 liters) of blood.
..... Click the link for more information. ; immunity immunity, ability of an organism to resist disease by identifying and destroying foreign substances or organisms. Although all animals have some immune capabilities, little is known about nonmammalian immunity.
..... Click the link for more information. ). E. chaffeensis invades monocytes; granulocytic Ehrlichia invades granulocytes.

ehrlichiosis [är‚lik·ē′ō·səs]

(medicine)

A tick-borne bacterial infection caused by two distinctEhrlichiaspecies that infect white blood cells; the infection may be asymptomatic, but it also can produce illness ranging from a few mild symptoms to an overwhelming multisystem disease.

ehrlichiosis (redirected from human monocytic ehrlichiosis)

ehrlichiosis
(redirected from human monocytic ehrlichiosis)