Anaplasmosis

Species

Rickettsial
Bacterial

Transmission time

Symptoms can begin within the first 24 hours or within 2 weeks of exposure.
Symptoms similar to the flu are common and include:
- Fever, chills, fatigue
- Headache, muscle pain, nausea
A rash is also possible.
Trouble breathing, kidney failure and neurological issues may occur in immunocompromised individuals.

Clinical signs and a history of exposure are most often used for diagnosis.
Anaplasma DNA can be detected in the blood within the first week of infection using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
Indirect Immunofluorescence Assays (IFA) is a two-part test used to detect antibodies.
- The first sample is collected within 7 days of infection and will be compared to the second sample collected 2-4 weeks after infection.
If the second sample shows the number of antibodies present has increased since the first sample was tested, the results are positive for Anaplasma.
False positives are common for the first part of the test.
Low platelet and white blood cell counts or elevated liver enzymes may suggest Anaplasma infection.

Adults: Doxycycline 100mg every 12 hours.
Children: Doxycycline 2.2mg/kg- 2x daily.
*Doxycycline is the most effective prevention of future complications and should be started within the first 5 days of infection for best results.

Anaplasmosis is an infection of the white blood cells which triggers an immediate immune response leading to symptoms.