ALERT: Anaplasmosis reported
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health has received our first probable case of Anaplasmosis (human granulocytic anaplasmosis) in a person residing in Prince Edward County.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum) is a tick-borne intracellular bacterium that is carried by Ixodes scapularis, the blacklegged or deer tick. It usually requires at least 12 hours for A. phagocytophilum to be acquired from a blood-feeding tick and symptom onset is typically 1-2 weeks following the bite of an infected tick.
Symptoms: Commonly include fever and at least one of the following: headache, malaise/asthenia, arthralgia, myalgia, nonhemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, elevated hepatic transaminase levels, or elevated numbers of immature neutrophils (left shift).
Testing: Acute and convalescent serology can assist with anaplasmosis diagnosis. The National Microbiology Laboratory also offers PCR testing upon a physician’s request.
Diagnosis: Symptoms may vary from patient to patient and can be difficult to differentiate from other illnesses. If seeing a patient with compatible symptoms and suspected exposure to ticks, please consider anaplasmosis, along with Lyme.
Treatment: Doxycycline is the first line of treatment for patients of all ages. Treatment is likely more effective if started early in the course of the disease. Patients should be treated based on clinical symptoms and exposure to ticks.
Prevention: Please continue to educate your patients about modes of tick transmission and the means for personal protection, as with other vectorborne diseases such as Lyme.
For more information:
As a reminder, probable and confirmed cases of Anaplasmosis are reportable to Public Health under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Health care providers may use our Online DOPHS Reporting Form.
For additional information, or to provide a verbal report, please contact our Infectious and Communicable Diseases team at 613-966-5500, ext. 349.
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