Ehrlichiosis y anaplasmosis en Costa Rica (Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis in Costa Rica)

Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis are tick borne infectious diseases caused by bacteria from the family Anaplasmataceae. They both can infect humans, amongst other species, and their clinical presentation can be associated to a common cold or compatible to dengue hemorrhagic fever, a common disease in Costa Rica. Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis are also considered diseases with veterinary importance. Following is a review of the findings from research conducted in the country to determine the presence and distribution of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma in Costa Rica. Ehrlichia canis is widely distributed in the country, prevailing in dogs and their ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Also, the presence of Anaplasma platys and Anaplasma phagocytophilum has been detected in dogs and their ticks, although less frequently. We also detected the presence of A. phagocytophilum in white-tailed deer, and E. canis in humans blood bank donors by serological and molecular techniques.