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Case Reports
. 2009 Fall;20(3):e100-2.
doi: 10.1155/2009/124173.

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis: First reported case in Canada

Michael D Parkins  1 , Deirdre L Church, Xiu Yan Jiang, Daniel B Gregson
Affiliations
Case Reports

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis: First reported case in Canada

Michael D Parkins et al. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2009 Fall.

Abstract
in English, French

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is a tick-borne rickettsial infection of peripheral blood neutrophils caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum. While this infection is increasingly recognized as endemic throughout much of the United States, no Canadian cases have been previously described, despite the agent being identified in Canadian ticks. Herein we present a case of HGA acquired in an urban Alberta centre. Canadian physicians must be aware of the possibility of tick-borne rickettsial diseases as etiology of fever in individuals presenting with leukopenia/lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia and elevated transaminases during periods of tick activity. Prompt recognition and treatment are important in minimizing resultant morbidity and mortality.

L’anaplasmose granulocytaire humaine (AGH) est une rickettsiose, plus particulièrement une infection des neutrophiles du sang périphérique, transmise par les tiques et causée par Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Bien que la maladie soit de plus en plus reconnue comme endémique dans une grande partie des États-Unis, aucun cas n’avait été signalé jusqu’à maintenant, au Canada, malgré le fait que l’agent causal, lui, ait été détecté dans des tiques au pays. Il sera donc question, dans le présent article, d’un cas d’AGH apparu dans un centre urbain, en Alberta. Les médecins, au Canada, doivent penser à une rickettsiose transmise par les tiques comme cause possible de fièvre chez les personnes présentant une leucopénie ou une lymphocytopénie, une thrombocytopénie et un taux élevé de transaminases durant la période d’activité des tiques. Il est important de reconnaître la maladie et de la traiter rapidement afin de diminuer la morbidité et la mortalité.

Keywords: Anaplasma phagocytophilum; Ehrlichia; Ixodes; Leukopenia; Thrombocytopenia; Ticks.

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Figures

Figure 1)
Figure 1)
Peripheral blood smear from the patient demonstrating morulae within a peripheral neutrophil containing Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Wright stain, original magnification × 1000)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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