ehrlichiosis

noun

ehr·​lich·​i·​o·​sis er-ˌli-kē-ˈō-sis 

plural ehrlichioses er-ˌli-kē-ˈō-ˌsēz 

: infection with or a disease caused by tick-borne bacteria (genus Ehrlichia of the family Anaplasmataceae) that in humans is marked especially by fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, and fatigue

Note: Following taxonomic reclassification of the causative agent (Ehrlichia phagocytophila) of the granulocytic form of human ehrlichiosis as an anaplasma (Anaplasma phagocytophilum), the disease is now referred to as either human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, or simply, anaplasmosis.

Examples of ehrlichiosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ticks, for instance, can transmit infections that cause Lyme disease, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis and tularemia. —Katia Hetter, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024

According to Salzer, other lone star tick diseases, such as ehrlichiosis, have been increasing as well, suggesting lone star tick numbers could be increasing in the U.S. —Bree Iskandar, STAT, 27 July 2023

These parasites can cause a host of health issues that can be detrimental to your pet's health, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 24 June 2023

These ticks have the ability to transmit ehrlichiosis, which is a bacterial infection with flu-like symptoms according to the CDC. —Chandra Fleming, Detroit Free Press, 5 May 2023

Lone star ticks, abundant in the South, transmit infections like tularemia, ehrlichiosis, and a Lyme-like illness not yet identified. —Linda Marsa, Discover Magazine, 4 Feb. 2011

Where the deer go, so do their parasites, and these include the lone star tick, the animal that spreads ehrlichiosis. —Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2010

These pests can transmit a number of serious diseases to your dog, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2022

In 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded just 100 or so cases of ehrlichiosis in the United States. —Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2010

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Ehrlichia, bacteria genus, from Paul Ehrlich

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ehrlichiosis

• human granulocytic ehrlichiosis

Medical Definition

ehrlichiosis

noun

ehr·​lich·​i·​o·​sis er-ˌlik-ē-ˈō-sis 

plural ehrlichioses -ˌsēz 

: infection with or a disease caused by tick-borne bacteria of the genus Ehrlichia that affects both humans and animals (such as dogs, horses, and sheep) and that in humans is marked especially by fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, and fatigue

Note: When ehrlichiosis occurs in humans, the disease is often referred to as human granulocytic ehrlichiosis or human monocytic ehrlichiosis depending on the type of white blood cell (granulocyte or monocyte) infected. Following reclassification of the causative agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis to the genus Anaplasma, human granulocytic ehrlichiosis is now also called human granulocytic anaplasmosis or simply, anaplasmosis.