Cheng Chuanmin, Sirigireddy Kamesh R, Ganta Roman R
Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.
Curr Protoc Microbiol. 2008 May;Chapter 3:Unit 3A.3. doi: 10.1002/9780471729259.mc03a03s9.
Human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME), caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis, was first recognized in 1986. Infection with this pathogen can be fatal in immune compromised and elderly humans. E. chaffeensis can also infect dogs and several wild animals. The clinical symptoms of HME include fever, headache, malaise, myalgia, confusion, rash, lymphadenopathy, and nausea. White-tailed deer serve as the major reservoir host for the natural maintenance of E. chaffeensis. E. canis is primarily responsible for the canine monocytic ehrlichiosis and is endemic throughout the world. It has a significant impact on the health of dogs. The isolation and growth of Ehrlichia species from vertebrate host samples is difficult and time consuming. In this unit, methods to recover E. chaffeensis and E. canis from infected blood samples collected from dogs, deer, and human patients are described. PCR and RT-PCR methods for sensitive detection of Ehrlichia infection are also discussed.
人单核细胞埃立克体病（HME）由恰菲埃立克体引起，于1986年首次被确认。这种病原体感染在免疫功能低下的人和老年人中可能是致命的。恰菲埃立克体也可感染狗和几种野生动物。HME的临床症状包括发热、头痛、不适、肌痛、意识模糊、皮疹、淋巴结病和恶心。白尾鹿是恰菲埃立克体自然维持的主要储存宿主。犬埃立克体主要引起犬单核细胞埃立克体病，在全球范围内流行。它对狗的健康有重大影响。从脊椎动物宿主样本中分离和培养埃立克体属物种既困难又耗时。在本单元中，描述了从狗、鹿和人类患者采集的感染血液样本中回收恰菲埃立克体和犬埃立克体的方法。还讨论了用于敏感检测埃立克体感染的PCR和RT-PCR方法。
