title: Human anaplasmosis in Belgium: a 10-year seroepidemiological study.
abstract: Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is a tick-borne rickettsial infection of neutrophils caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Although the pathogen was known as a veterinary agent as early as 1932, the link with human disease was first established in 1990. In the past decennium, the involvement of HGA as an important and frequent cause of fever with a history of tick bite was increasingly recognized in many regions of Europe. This paper presents a 10-year A. phagocytophilum serosurveillance (2000-2009), wherein 1672 serum samples were tested and 418 were found positive. A total of 111 patients had a history of tick bite, fever, and at least a 4-fold rise in titre and are thus considered to be confirmed cases. These findings suggest that Belgium is a hot spot for HGA infections.
authors: Research Laboratory and Reference Laboratory for Vector-borne Diseases, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, B-1120 Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Christel
authors: C
authors: Cochez
authors: Geneviève
authors: G
authors: Ducoffre
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Vandenvelde
authors: Victor
authors: V
authors: Luyasu
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Heyman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000254:growth & development*; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology; D001530:Belgium; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D018884:Ixodes / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial