R. Woessner et al., Incidence and prevalence of infection with human granulocytic ehrlichiosisagent in Germany. A prospective study in young healthy subjects, INFECTION, 29(5), 2001, pp. 271-273
Background: Only Limited data are available on incidence and prevalence of
infection with the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) agent in a healthy
population.
Materials and Methods: In a prospective study, we tested 361 male soldiers
(age 18-29 years) from southwestern Germany for the HGE agent immunoglobuli
n G (IgG) using an indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay and for Borre
lia burgdorferi IgG with an ELISA at the beginning and the end of their 10-
month military service. Using a standardized questionnaire, the subjects we
re asked about clinical symptoms at the beginning and the end of the observ
ation period.
Results: Of these 361 subjects, 14.9% were HGE agent IgG positive at study
entry. 19 participants (5.3%) seroconverted from IgG negative to positive d
uring the observation period resulting in an incidence rate of 6.4% per yea
r. 20 subjects converted from initially HGE agent IgG positive to negative
resulting in a reconversion rate of 6.6% per year. Concurrence of Borrelia
IgG and HGE agent IgG was observed in 21.1%, whereas 13.7% were HGE agent I
gG positive but Borrelia IgG negative (not significant). Clinical symptoms
associated with HGE were not present in seroconverting subjects.
Conclusion: Infection with the HGE agent occurs frequently in southwestern
Germany but was asymptomatic in these young subjects.