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Anaplasmosis
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Photo credit: US CDC
About Anaplasmosis
Anaplasmosis is a disease caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. This bacterium infects white blood cells (neutrophils) in the immune system.
Anaplasmosis is transmitted to a person through the bite of an infected deer tick (Ixodes scapularis). Anaplasmosis cases appear to be increasing in Maine as the deer tick spreads throughout the state.
Anaplasmosis is treatable with antibiotics. The best way to prevent anaplasmosis is by avoiding tick bites.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of anaplasmosis begin 1-2 weeks after the bite of an infected tick. Signs and symptoms may include:
Fever and chills
Headache
Muscle pain
Nausea and abdominal pain
More severe signs and symptoms may include:
Difficulty breathing
Kidney failure
Neurologic problems
See a healthcare provider if you become ill after being bitten by a tick or spending time in areas where ticks commonly live. Be sure to mention a recent tick bite or time spent in tick habitat to your healthcare provider.
Prevention
Prevent Tick Bites
The best way to prevent anaplasmosis is to prevent tick bites in the first place. Take these simple steps every day to prevent tick bites:
Wear light-colored, long-sleeved clothing and pants. Tuck your pants into your socks.
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Use an EPA-approved bug spray.
Stay in the middle of trails.
Do daily tick checks and check your pets for ticks.
Protect Your Yard From Ticks
You can make your yard a tick-safe zone:
- Keep the lawn mowed.
- Keep leaves raked and get rid of leaf piles.
- Move wood piles away from the house. Mice like to live here and can bring ticks with them.
- Move birdfeeders away from the house, gardens, and yard toys. Deer and mice like birdfeeders and can bring ticks into the yard.
- Use crushed stone or woodchips to make a tick-safe barrier around your yard. This should be 3-feet wide to separate the yard from the woods and keep ticks from crossing into the yard.
To learn more about tick bite prevention and how to keep ticks out of your yard, visit Tick Frequently Asked Questions.
Resources for Educators
Maine CDC developed vectorborne school curricula for 3rd-8th grade classrooms. The curriculum is aligned with Maine Learning Results. School nurses, teachers, and other youth leaders are encouraged to use this resource in their classrooms.
Reports and Publications
Anaplasmosis Surveillance Report (PDF) 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021
Resources
Anaplasmosis Factsheet (PDF) | عربي | Français (PDF) | Kreyòl Ayisyen (PDF) | Kiswahili (PDF) | Lingala (PDF) | Português (PDF) | Soomaali (PDF) | Español (PDF) | Tiếng Việt (PDF)
Frequently Asked Tick Questions
Tick Identification Information
Orderable Materials
Tickborne Disease Data in Maine
Tickborne Disease 2024 Webinar
Tickborne Diseases in Maine: Anaplasmosis Video
U.S. CDC Anaplasmosis Information