Ehrlichiosis in Kentucky

Ehrlichiosis is a recently described tick-borne disease characterized by headache, fever and chills, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and transaminase elevation. The presentation is similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever but the rash is less frequently present in ehrlichiosis. The diagnosis is confirmed by elevated antibody titers to Ehrlichia chaffeensis or visualization of inclusions in white blood cells and the disease is easily cured with tetracyclines or chloramphenicol. Cases of ehrlichiosis are reported from southeastern, southcentral and midatlantic states. We report three cases of Ehrlichia infection acquired in Pulaski County and Fort Knox, KY during 1992-93.