Ehrlichia Wisconsin HM543746
Encyclopedia
Ehrlichia Wisconsin HM543746 is an unnamed tick
bacteria that spread through Minnesota
and Wisconsin
in 2009 and is similar to Ehrlichia muris.
Researchers took more than 4000 blood sample
s from people who appeared to have ehrlichiosis
or anaplasmosis
, and used 697 ticks from both states as test subjects The researchers, working at the Mayo Clinic
, used molecular methods, culturing, and serological testing. The research was conducted after technologist Carol Werner noticed an unnatural Ehrlichia Polymerase chain reaction
. The investigation arrived at the discovery of the new bacteria because the research showed that 4 of the patients were infected by a new bacteria; their symptoms in 2009 including fevers, headaches, fatigue
, nausea
, and vomiting. All four of the patients survived by being treated with doxycycline
.
The results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine and brought up in a Health Alert Network public health announcement. The lead researcher Bobbi Pritt said, "Before this report, human ehrlichiosis was thought to be very rare or absent in Minnesota and Wisconsin, therefore, physicians might not know to look for Ehrlichia infections at all." The entomologist Susan Paskewitz said that owing to the increase of deer tick
s in Wisconsin, there may be further incidents of this bacteria infecting people. Before the discovery, the tick bacteria Ehrlichia chaffeensis
and Ehrlichia ewingii
were believed to be the only causes of ehrlichiosis in the United States.
Tick
Ticks are small arachnids in the order Ixodida, along with mites, constitute the subclass Acarina. Ticks are ectoparasites , living by hematophagy on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians...
bacteria that spread through Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
and Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
in 2009 and is similar to Ehrlichia muris.
Researchers took more than 4000 blood sample
Blood Sample
Blood Sample is the 10th studio album by the Finnish avant-garde progressive metal band Waltari.-Track listing:# "Helsinki" - 5:53# "Not Enough" - 3:35# "Too Much Emptiness" - 2:30# "Never" - 4:01# "New York" - 3:48# "I'm in Pain" - 4:38...
s from people who appeared to have ehrlichiosis
Ehrlichiosis
Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease of dogs usually caused by the organism Ehrlichia canis. Ehrlichia canis is the pathogen of animals. Humans can become infected by E. canis and other species after tick exposure. German Shepherd dogs are thought to be particularly affected by the disease, other...
or anaplasmosis
Anaplasmosis
Anaplasmosis is a disease caused by a rickettsial parasite of ruminants, Anaplasma spp. The organism occurs in the white blood cells and is transmitted by natural means through a number of haematophagous species of ticks...
, and used 697 ticks from both states as test subjects The researchers, working at the Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
, used molecular methods, culturing, and serological testing. The research was conducted after technologist Carol Werner noticed an unnatural Ehrlichia Polymerase chain reaction
Polymerase chain reaction
The polymerase chain reaction is a scientific technique in molecular biology to amplify a single or a few copies of a piece of DNA across several orders of magnitude, generating thousands to millions of copies of a particular DNA sequence....
. The investigation arrived at the discovery of the new bacteria because the research showed that 4 of the patients were infected by a new bacteria; their symptoms in 2009 including fevers, headaches, fatigue
Fatigue
Fatigue may refer to:*Fatigue , structural damage from repeated loading*Fatigue , a state of physical and/or mental weakness*Fatigue , safety implications of tiredness...
, nausea
Nausea
Nausea , is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often, but not always, precedes vomiting...
, and vomiting. All four of the patients survived by being treated with doxycycline
Doxycycline
Doxycycline INN is a member of the tetracycline antibiotics group, and is commonly used to treat a variety of infections. Doxycycline is a semisynthetic tetracycline invented and clinically developed in the early 1960s by Pfizer Inc. and marketed under the brand name Vibramycin. Vibramycin...
.
The results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine and brought up in a Health Alert Network public health announcement. The lead researcher Bobbi Pritt said, "Before this report, human ehrlichiosis was thought to be very rare or absent in Minnesota and Wisconsin, therefore, physicians might not know to look for Ehrlichia infections at all." The entomologist Susan Paskewitz said that owing to the increase of deer tick
Deer Tick
Deer Tick is an American indie folk band from Providence, Rhode Island led by guitarist and singer-songwriter John McCauley. Deer Tick's music has been described as a combination of folk, blues, and country.-History:...
s in Wisconsin, there may be further incidents of this bacteria infecting people. Before the discovery, the tick bacteria Ehrlichia chaffeensis
Ehrlichia chaffeensis
Ehrlichia chaffeensis is a species of rickettsiales bacteria.It is named for Fort Chaffee.It is the causative agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis....
and Ehrlichia ewingii
Ehrlichia ewingii
Ehrlichia ewingii is a species of rickettsiales bacteria.Previously known to infect dogs, it has recently been associated with human infection .There is currently no serological test.PCR can be used in diagnosis....
were believed to be the only causes of ehrlichiosis in the United States.