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a Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical and Morphological Research, School of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine 33100, Italy b Microbiology Department, Hospital of S. Daniele, S. Daniele 33038, Italy c Institute of Microbiology, University of Udine, Udine 33100, Italy
Key Words: human granulocytic anaplasmosis • tick-borne infection • seroprevalence • Italy
Address for correspondence: Anna Beltrame, Department of Infectious Disease, Via Colugna No. 50, 33100 Udine, Italy. Voice: +39-0432-55-9355; fax: +39-0432-55-9360. e-mail: anna.beltrame{at}med.uniud.it
Sporadic cases of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) have been reported in areas with a high prevalence of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) in Europe. We aimed at estimating the sero-prevalance of A. phagocytophilum and other TBDs in northeastern Italy in outpatients with a history of recent tick bite or suspected TBD. In the 1-year study, 79 patients were enrolled and 30 (38%) received a diagnosis of TBD: 24 (30%) with Lyme desease and 5 (6%) with HGE. Our findings indicate the presence of HGA in northernsterm Italy; so, since co-infection with Lyme disease appeared to be frequent, physicians assessing patients after a tick bite should consider HGA in the diagnosis.
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