Heartland Virus Infection in Elderly Patient Initially Suspected of Having Ehrlichiosis, North Carolina, USA

Emerg Infect Dis. 2024 Dec;30(12):2625-2628. doi: 10.3201/eid3012.240646. Epub 2024 Nov 5.

Abstract

We report a patient in North Carolina, USA, with Heartland virus infection whose diagnosis was complicated by previous Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection. We identified E. ewingii-infected and Bourbon virus-infected tick pools at the patient's residence. Healthcare providers should consider testing for tickborne viruses if ehrlichiosis is suspected.

Keywords: Amblyomma americanum; Bourbon virus; Ehrlichia chaffeensis; Ehrlichia ewingii; Heartland virus; North Carolina; United States; bacteria; co-infection; ehrlichiosis; ticks; vector-borne infections; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Bunyaviridae
  • Ehrlichia chaffeensis / genetics
  • Ehrlichia chaffeensis / isolation & purification
  • Ehrlichiosis* / diagnosis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • North Carolina

Supplementary concepts

  • Heartland virus