Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Ehrlichia), RT-PCR

The Anaplasma and Ehrlichia genera are bacteria that primarily cause diseases of livestock and domestic animals primarily. There is an observed however, an increasing number of infections in humans. The vector of Anaplasma phagocytophilum are ticks. A feature of the disease caused is sparse manifestation, which makes it difficult to diagnose. The disease most often has a flu-like course. Helpful in diagnosis is finding in the history of a tick bite. The site of multiplication of bacteria are human granulocytes. After the breakdown of these cells, the bacteria are released into the blood, entering many organs. The most sensitive and fastest method of determining the etiological agent of the etiological agent of the disease is the detection of DNA (by molecular biology method molecular biology - RT - PCR) of the microorganism, which is sought in the blood of affected individuals.