Anaplasma phagocytophilum [anʺǝ-plazʹmǝ faʹgo-sītʺo-fī-lum]
A species of tickborne bacteria that causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis, Anaplasma (from the Greek an- [“without”] + plasma [“shape”]) phagocytophilum (named for its affinity for growing in neutrophils: phagocyte + Latin phile [“loving”]) has gone by many names (Figure). First it was named Rickettsia (for Howard Taylor Ricketts) phagocytophilum, then Cytoecetes (for its similarity to Cytoecetes microti) phagocytophilum, and then Ehrlichia (for Paul Ehrlich) phagocytophilum. More recently, E. equi and the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (now anaplasmosis) were combined with E. phagocytophilum as A. phagocytophilum.
Figure.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum cultured in human promyelocytic cells, showing morulae as basophilic and intracytoplasmic inclusions (arrows). Wright-Giemsa stain. Original magnification x1,000. Image: Emerg Infect Dis. 2014;20:1708–11.
Footnotes
Suggested citation for this article: Etymologia: Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Emerg Infect Dis. 2019 Mar [date cited]. https://doi.org/eid2504.ET2504
Sources
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