Human granulocytic anaplasmosis in northeastern Italy.
Sporadic cases of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) have been reported in areas with a high prevalence of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) in Europe. We aimed at estimating the sero-prevalence of A. phagocytophilum and other TBDs in northeastern Italy in outpatients with a history of recent tick bite or suspected TBD. In the 1-year study, 79 patients were enrolled and 30 (38%) received a diagnosis of TBD: 24 (30%) with Lyme disease and 5 (6%) with HGE. Our findings indicate the presence of HGA in northeastern Italy; so, since co-infection with Lyme disease appeared to be frequent, physicians assessing patients after a tick bite should consider HGA in the diagnosis.
Beltrame
Anna
A
Department of Infectious Disease, Via Colugna No. 50, 33100 Udine, Italy. anna.beltrame@med.uniud.it
Ruscio
Maurizio
M
Arzese
Alessandra
A
Rorato
Giada
G
Negri
Camilla
C
Londero
Angela
A
Crapis
Massimo
M
Scudeller
Luigia
L
Viale
Pierluigi
P
D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000382:microbiology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D013987:Ticks