• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of the blood within the first week of infection can detect Ehrlichia DNA.
• Peripheral blood smears may show Ehrlichia in white blood cells confirming diagnosis.
• 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 Ehrlichia .
• False positives are common for the first part of the test.
• Low platelet and white blood cell counts or elevated liver enzymes may suggest Ehrlichiosis infection.

CDC Treatment Recommendation

• Adult: Doxycycline 100mg-2x daily for 7-14 days
• Children: 2.2mg/kg-2x daily for 7-14 days

Disease Pathogenesis

• Ehrlichia chaffeensis will cause Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis by invading white blood cells known as monocytes. The immune system will destroy infected cells in response to the infection causing disease symptoms.
• Ehrlichia ewingii will cause Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis by invading white blood cells known as granulocytes. The immune system will destroy infected cells in response to the infection causing disease symptoms.