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Ehrlichiosis - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Ehrlichiosis monocítica humana; EMH; Ehrlichiosis granulocítica humana; EGH; Anaplasmosis granulocítica humana; AGH

Definición:

Es una enfermedad infecciosa transmitida por la picadura de una garrapata.

Causas:

La ehrlichiosis es causada por bacterias que pertenecen a la familia llamada Rickettsiae, las cuales ocasionan muchas enfermedades graves en todo el mundo, tales como la fiebre maculosa de las Montañas Rocosas y el tifus. Todas estas enfermedades se diseminan a los humanos por la picadura de garrapatas, pulgas y ácaros.

Los científicos describieron esta enfermedad por primera vez en 1990 y han identificado dos tipos en los Estados Unidos.

  • La ehrlichiosis monocítica humana (EMH): causada por la bacteria de la familia Rickettsiae llamada Ehrlichia chaffeensis.
  • La ehrlichiosis granulocítica humana (EGH): también llamada anaplasmosis granulocítica humana (AGH) y causada por la bacteria de la familia Rickettsiae Anaplasma phagocytophilum (alguna vez llamada Ehrlichia equi o Ehrlichia phagocytophila ).

Las bacterias ehrlichia pueden ser transportadas por la garrapata estrella solitaria (Amblyomma americanum), la garrapata del perro americano (Dermacentor variabilis) y la garrapata del venado (Ixodes scapularis ), que también puede causar la enfermedad de Lyme.

En los Estados Unidos, la ehrlichiosis monocítica humana se encuentra principalmente en los estados centrales del sur y en el sudeste, mientras que la ehrlichiosis granulocítica humana se encuentra principalmente en la región del noreste y centro noroeste.

Entre los factores de riesgo de la ehrlichiosis están:

  • Vivir cerca a un área con muchas garrapatas
  • Poseer una mascota que pueda llevar garrapatas al hogar
  • Caminar o jugar en pastizales altos
  • Reviewed last on: 12/3/2009
  • A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Greg Juhn, MTPW, David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital (8/28/2009).

Referencias

Walker DH, Cumler JS. Ehrlichia chaffeensis (human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis), anaplasma phagocytophilum (human granulocytotropic anaplasmosis), and other ehrlichieae. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa : Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2005: chap 190.

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