Anaplasmosis diagnosis and other queries

Hey guys,

anyone well versed in Anaplasmosis?

I just spent three weeks in hospital with a case of pericarditis, pericardial effusion, and partially collapsed lung that wasn't resolving very quickly. My inflammatory markers were quite high, and my hemoglobin dropping quite quickly (not hemolytic anemia). Could have been compounded by iron deficiency (likely poor absorption based) and inflammation. Not sure if any of these bugs actually reduce your iron stores by some other means than by possibly causing malabsorption.

I'm at home now, but the recovery has been pretty slow going, and in many ways feel like there is something underlying that's not resolving.

I received a positive anaplasmosis test through the Canadian CDC. On the coinfection front I was only tested for ehrlichia and bartonella. My lyme ELISA was negative but I realize that this is oft inaccurate.

No idea if anaplasmosis is the cause of my pleural/pericardial issues (I've been experiencing recurring and worsening symptoms over the last 5 years). This was the only time I'd taken it seriously enough and was hospitalized, as symptoms were not resolving as they normally did after a couple weeks. I think that's likely because of a three week round of prednisone I did four to five weeks earlier for a case of poison oak I had while in Northern California.

I did a ten day course of doxy and finished 4 days ago.

Not sure if this is a long term or recently acquired infection. I have spent a great deal of time living and working outdoors, hiking and camping across the continent (in the US and in Canada). So my risk of exposure has been high, despite never catching a tick latched and engorged. I have definitely been bitten, and now that I've seen a deer tick nymph on me, I understand how likely it is you would never be aware of it. Those guys are so small.

Anyone with any insight?

Interested in where to get testing done... and curious if anyone recommends a lab other than igenex for lyme and coinfection testing really strongly? Otherwise I might just get it all done with them.

Thanks your any information you might have!

Question - what prompted the testing for anaplasmosis? It’s not something we see often - especially here in Canada

Girlie said...
Hi krr - welcome!

I’m a fellow Canadian - from BC

Armin Labs is popular here with llnds - along with Igenex.
I would pick either one.

It’s possible you have Babesia as well - causing the anemia and perhaps the lung issues.

Other than tick bites how does someone get anaplasmosis ?

You do know that you can get these infec...tions from a bite - the tick doesn’t need to be attached for several hours and engorged?

Thanks for the welcome Girlie!

Is there anyone in BC, you've really enjoyed working with? On the Infectious disease/MD or ND front? Someone who's more than just generally knowledgeable, and willing to work with a patient who has a pretty alright grasp on microbiology?
Am also open to suggestions for out of BC, as I spend time semi regularly in MB and SK as well.

I know the conventional wisdom says they have to be attached for at least 24 hours, and I have never believed that. I've heard that again and again and it makes me cringe. So I certainly hadn't written off the possibility.

I think it's also likely that fleas are culpable. And I have, while in California, definitely been bitten by them.

I've heard of Armin labs, and have also seen a llnd in BC using Fry labs for some specific lyme tests. Anyone with a good handle on how to comprehensively go about this? While bearing in mind cost? My ND had the two igenex panels I wanted priced out at 3 k. It's about 800 bucks cheaper if I send them in myself. smile Willing to spend the money, but it is a good deal of money... And if some of those labs are using the same strain and standards the CDC is using for certain coinfections, I'd love to just push for getting that testing done in the medical system and taking them off my list to send to to alternative labs.

I realize none of this is straight forward and hope I'm not being too overwhelming

WalkingbyFaith said...
I recommend getting Stephen Buhner's book on Anaplasma, Babesia, and Ehrlichia. Anaplasma and ehrlichia are very closely related and seldom talked about. Anaplasma is found more in the north and ehrlichia the south.

I tested positive for Lyme and ehrlichia with DNA Connexions lab.

I just looked it up in Buhner's book. It is resistant to most antibiotics but does respond to tetracyclines, especially doxycycline (100 mg 2x day for 30 days). I think a higher dose is prescribed nowadays, at least for Lyme. He says more and gives other treatment modalities that have been used.

Thanks! And I'll look up that book. I've been trying to get an MD to up my course. Most have been reluctant, but I think I'll be able to square that away soon enough. Doxy is generally pretty well tolerated from what I understand. Just too bad we're heading into the summer and I love the sun!

Post Edited (krr) : 5/29/2018 6:54:44 PM (GMT-6)

Wanted to add - I did see llnd EC in Richmond for over 2 years and plateaued.

I'm now going to the J Clinic in Washington,DC. I only have to go in-person twice a year...so it's not as expensive as you might think.