Anaplasmosis is a zoonotic tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum which is mainly transmitted to humans by tick bites. Typical symptoms occur within 1-2 weeks of a tick bite by fever, headaches, chills, and muscle aches.
This article shows the result of laboratory-based diagnosis test of Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis (HGA) from Anaplasmosis-suspicious patient in South Korea. We performed both serological test of HGA using indirect immuno-fluorescent antibody assay (IFA) for 302 patient sera and PCR test using 16S rRNA target gene for 209 cases of patient blood. In serological tests using IFA, 16(5.3%) of the 302 cases tested positive for IgG or IgM for A. phagocytohilum(male 9, 56.3% vs. female 7, 43.7%) with higher proportion of those aged >= 50(12, 75.0%). 4(25.0%) of 16 cases having convalescent sera seroconverted. 6(2.9%) of the 209 cases revealed positive PCR test. This article provides a basis for laboratory diagnosis for febrile patients who had fever with a recent history of tick bites or outdoor activity.