Volume 21, Number 3—March 2015
Letter
Molecular Detection of Ehrlichia chaffeensis in Humans, Costa Rica
Norman Rojas
, Daniela Castillo, and Priscilla Marin
, Daniela Castillo, and Priscilla Marin
Table
Clinical manifestations in patients and laboratory findings of Ehrlichia PCR-positive and negative blood samples, Costa Rica
| Characteristics |
Patient group, no. (%) |
|
| Clinical findings at first examination | PCR-positive, n = 5 | PCR-negative, n = 17 |
| History of tick bite | 5 (100) | 12 (70.6) |
| Fever | 2 (40) | 1 (6) |
| Rash | 4 (80) | 11 (64.7) |
| General arthralgia | 5 (100) | 11 (64.7) |
| Headache | 4 (80) | 7 (41.2) |
| Detection of morulae | 1 (20) | 12 (70.6) |
| Positive response to doxycycline |
1 (20) |
8 (47.1) |
| Laboratory findings | Range (reference value)* |
|
| Leukocytes | 5.3–7.9 × 109 cells/L (5–10 × 109 cells/L) | 6.0–8.9 × 109 cells/L (5–10 × 109 cells/L) |
| Platelets | 190–299 × 109 cells/L (150–450 × 109 cells/L) | 217–329 × 109 cells/L(150–450 × 109 cells/L) |
| Hemoglobin | 12.9–14.9 (12.5–17 g/dL) | 12.7–16.1 (12.5–17 g/dL) |
| Aspartate aminotransferase | 27–39 U/L (13–39 U/L) | 26–36 U/L (13–39 U/L) |
| Alanine transaminase | 21–49 U/L (7–52 U/L) | 25–41 U/L (7–52 U/L) |
*Laboratory values at time of sampling for this study.
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