Morulae in neutrophils: A diagnostic clue for human granulocytic anaplasmosis
Sungim Choi,
Young-Uk Cho,
Sung-Han Kim
Affiliations
Sungim Choi
Department of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Young-Uk Cho
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Sung-Han Kim
Department of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Corresponding author at: Department of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro-43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, South Korea.
Although there was no specific finding in peripheral blood smears performed on the second day after doxycycline administration in clinically suspected human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) patients, we re-examed the peripheral blood smears performed at the time of admission and found morulaes in neutrophils. This case shows that the detection of morulae in a blood smear can be helpful in the diagnosis of HGA, especially in the acute phase of illness, prior to empirical antibiotic administration. Keywords: Human granulocytic anaplasmosis, Morulae, Diagnosis
