Ehrlichia chaffeensis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Bacteria |
Phylum: | Pseudomonadota |
Class: | Alphaproteobacteria |
Order: | Rickettsiales |
Family: | Ehrlichiaceae |
Genus: | Ehrlichia |
Species: | E. chaffeensis
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Binomial name | |
Ehrlichia chaffeensis Anderson et al. 1992
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Ehrlichia chaffeensis is an obligate intracellular,[1] Gram-negative species of Rickettsiales bacteria.[2] It is a zoonotic pathogen transmitted to humans by the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum).[3] It is the causative agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis.[4]
Human monocytic ehrlichiosis caused by E. chaffeensis is known to spread through tick infection primarily in the Southern, South-central and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.[5] In recent years, the lone star tick has expanded its range along the East Coast to New England, putting more humans at risk for tick-borne infections.[6]
It is named for Fort Chaffee, where the bacterium was first discovered in blood samples of infected patients.[2]