Anaplasma phagocytophilum in White-tailed Deer

Abstract

We examined the reservoir potential of white-tailed deer for Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Results suggest that white-tailed deer harbor a variant strain not associated with human infection, but contrary to published reports, white-tailed deer are not a reservoir for strains that cause human disease. These results will affect surveillance studies of vector and reservoir populations.

Keywords

• Anaplasma phagocytophilum
• human granulocytic ehrlichiosis
• human anaplasmosis
• white-tailed deer
• dispatch
• United States