ehrlichiosis

ehrlichiosis An acute tick-borne disease first reported in humans in 1986. Erlichiosis is due to infection by the rickettsia microbe, Ehrlichia canis, which is usually carried by the brown dog tick. Erlichiosis is similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, characterized by high fever, headache, malaise, and muscle pain, but without the rash. See also rickettsial diseases.