The key difference between Lyme disease and anaplasmosis is that the causative agent of Lyme disease is Borrelia burgdorferi, while the causative agent of anaplasmosis is Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
Ticks can be infected with bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Some of the well-known tick-borne diseases in the United States are Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Southern tick-associated rash illness, tick-borne relapsing fever, tularemia, etc. Lyme disease is caused by an extracellular spirochetal bacterium, while anaplasmosis is caused by an obligate intracellular bacterium.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Lyme Disease
3. What is Anaplasmosis
4. Similarities – Lyme Disease and Anaplasmosis
5. Lyme Disease vs Anaplasmosis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Lyme Disease vs Anaplasmosis
What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. It is an extracellular spirochetal bacterium. This bacterium is carried by a tick called the black-legged tick. This disease was first recognized in 1975 when many children in Lyme, Connecticut, USA, received a diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The signs and symptoms of the early stage of Lyme disease include a reddish rash, fever, headache, stiff neck, body, and joint aches, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. Moreover, the signs and symptoms of the second and late stages may include multiple areas of rash, paralysis of facial muscles, heart block, neuropathy, arthritis, brain fog, and polyneuropathy.
Figure 01: Lyme
Lyme disease can be diagnosed through physical examinations, blood tests, and neurological examinations. Furthermore, the treatment options for Lyme disease include antibiotics, such as doxycycline or amoxicillin.
What is Anaplasmosis?
Anaplasmosis is also known as granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE), which is an illness caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. This bacterium is carried by a tick called the black-legged tick. This tick is also known as the deer tick, which also carries the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control in the U.S., less than 1% of people with anaplasmosis die in the United States due to their symptoms.
Figure 02: Anaplasmosis
The common symptoms that occur during early illness include fever, chills, muscle aches, severe headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, and loss of appetite. The late illness symptoms of this condition may include respiratory failure, organ failure, bleeding problems, and death. Moreover, anaplasmosis can be diagnosed through physical examination and blood tests. Furthermore, anaplasmosis is usually treated by prescribing an antibiotic called doxycycline and management of organ failure at the intensive care unit after hospitalization.
What are the Similarities Between Lyme Disease and Anaplasmosis?
- Lyme disease and anaplasmosis are two tick-borne diseases.
- The pathogens of both diseases are carried by black-legged ticks.
- Both diseases may have symptoms like fever, chills, fatigue, etc.
- Both diseases can be diagnosed through physical examination and blood tests.
- They are mainly treated through prescribed antibiotics such as doxycycline.
What is the Difference Between Lyme Disease and Anaplasmosis?
Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease that is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, while anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease that is caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Thus, this is the key difference between Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. Furthermore, Lyme disease is caused by an extracellular spirochetal bacterium, while anaplasmosis is caused by an obligate intracellular bacterium.
The below infographic presents the differences between Lyme disease and anaplasmosis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Lyme Disease vs Anaplasmosis
Tick-borne diseases are due to bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These diseases are common in the United States. Lyme disease and anaplasmosis are two main tick-borne diseases that are transmitted to humans through the same tick called black-legged tick. Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, while anaplasmosis is caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum. So, this summarizes the difference between Lyme disease and anaplasmosis.
Reference:
1. “Lyme Disease: Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention & Recovery.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. O’Neill, Maggie. “What Is Anaplasmosis?” Health, Health.
Image Courtesy:
1. “OSC Microbio 12 02 LymeRash” By CNX OpenStax – (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Anaplasma-centrale” By Alan R Walker – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia