Infectiologic differential diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease and so ...

Secondary coinfections of Lyme disease
In the following, additional infections will be presented, which are mentioned in
international publications as coinfections of Lyme disease—in particular HGA
(human granulocytic anaplasmosis) and babesiosis. These two coinfections are of
importance in the USA, but not in Europe.
Because of the similarity of their symptoms to those of LD, the following diseases are
included for completeness’ sake: tularemia, Q fever, parvovirus B19 infection and
Campylobacter jejuni infection.
Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA)
Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (Synonym: Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis
(HGE)) is transmitted by ticks. Its reservoirs are red deer and the white-footed
mouse The HGA pathogen can be simultaneously transmitted with Borrelia
burgdorferi with the consequence of a double infection. HGA exhibits many
symptoms which also occur in the same form in LD. Indications of HGA are
pathological laboratory findings in the form of leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and
elevated transaminases.
The pathogen is localized intracellularly. The transmission to mice has been proven
[193].
In connection with ehrlichiosis or anaplasmosis, respectively, two pathogens are to
be noted:
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