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Presence of granulocytic ehrlichia in ticks and serological evidence of human infection in La Rioja, Spain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 November 2001

J. A. OTEO ,
H. GIL ,
M. BARRAL ,
A. PÉREZ ,
S. JIMENEZ ,
J. R. BLANCO ,
V. MARTINEZ DE ARTOLA ,
A. GARCÍA-PÉREZ  and
R. A. JUSTE
J. A. OTEO
Affiliation:
Servicio de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital de La Rioja, Avda. de Viana no 1, 26001 Logroño, Spain
H. GIL
Affiliation:
Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario (Neiker), 48160 Derio, Vizcaya, Spain
M. BARRAL
Affiliation:
Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario (Neiker), 48160 Derio, Vizcaya, Spain
A. PÉREZ
Affiliation:
Consejería de Salud, Gobiemo de La Rioja, Avda. Villamediana s/n 26003, Logroño, Spain
S. JIMENEZ
Affiliation:
Consejería de Salud, Gobiemo de La Rioja, Avda. Villamediana s/n 26003, Logroño, Spain
J. R. BLANCO
Affiliation:
Servicio de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital de La Rioja, Avda. de Viana no 1, 26001 Logroño, Spain
V. MARTINEZ DE ARTOLA
Affiliation:
Servicio de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital de La Rioja, Avda. de Viana no 1, 26001 Logroño, Spain
A. GARCÍA-PÉREZ
Affiliation:
Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario (Neiker), 48160 Derio, Vizcaya, Spain
R. A. JUSTE
Affiliation:
Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario (Neiker), 48160 Derio, Vizcaya, Spain
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Abstract

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In order to estimate the risks of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) in an endemic area for Lyme disease in the North of Spain (La Rioja), we collected and investigated by PCR specific to the E. phagocytophila group DNA, a total of 6870 Ixodes ricinus ticks. We also used an indirect immunofluorescence (IFI) test to study the presence of antibodies to the HGE agent in 147 human serum samples including patients with Lyme disease (LD), forestry workers, and persons with history of previous tick bite. Fifty serum samples from healthy people resident in urban areas and with no history of tick-bite disorder and without tick exposure were used as controls. Four of 76 adults and 49 of 203 nymphs pools carried E. phagocytophila DNA. This result, and the finding of 1·4% of sera reacting in the IFI test confirms that this tick-borne agent is present in La Rioja, and that humans show evidence of contact with it. HGE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of flu-like syndromes in the study area in the north of Spain.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 127 , Issue 2 , October 2001 , pp. 353 - 358
Copyright
2001 Cambridge University Press