Granulocytic Anaplasmosis of Humans Through the Lens of “One Health” and Environmental Influences
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11603/1681-2727.2026.2.16505Keywords:
human granulocytic anaplasmosis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, ixodid ticks, One Health concept, ecological aspects, repellent plantsAbstract
SUMMARY. Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is an acute bacterial transmissible disease with involvement of granulocytes, caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum. It is a zoonosis transmitted through the bites of Ixodes ricinus ticks. The most common symptoms include fever, malaise, myalgia, headache, and anorexia. In a significant proportion of patients, HGA manifests in combination with other tick-borne infections. PCR is considered the primary specific method for confirming the diagnosis of HGA in the acute phase of the disease. Although A. phagocytophilum is susceptible to all tetracyclines, doxycycline is the drug of choice in treatment.
Climate warming is one of the key factors contributing to the expansion of the range of ixodid ticks and an increase in the duration of their seasonal activity. The most active natural foci of infection are widespread in forest and forest-steppe zones. Infected ticks are increasingly being detected in urban parks. Factors of urbanization and urban sprawl, which lead to greater contact of the urban population with tick habitats, also play an important role.
A comprehensive understanding of the prevention of HGA and other tick-borne infections fits organically into the conceptual framework of «One Health» and substantiates the complex interconnectedness and interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health, as well as the need to eliminate disciplinary and professional barriers in approaches to healthcare. Accordingly, preventive measures covering only the human population are fundamentally insufficient. The implementation of the «One Health» approach requires the coordination of efforts by specialists in clinical medicine, veterinary medicine, the sanitary-epidemiological service, and ecology, as well as the development of integrated epidemiological surveillance systems covering human and animal populations and the environment. The spread of ticks is influenced by vegetation, as some plant species promote their growth and reproduction, while others, on the contrary, suppress them due to the presence of components with repellent properties (Artemisia absinthium, garden clove). As has been demonstrated, Japanese barberry, honeysuckle, and couch grass create dense thickets with a favorable microclimate, which significantly increases the density of tick populations and their lifespan. The ecological management strategy also includes modification of vegetation cover through the removal of invasive shrubs and deciduous leaf litter, which limits the survival of vectors.
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