ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo report the first laboratory-confirmed human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) case in Shandong Province.MethodsThe epidemiological investigation was done by filling out questionaires.Blood sample was collected for detecting the specific 16S rRNA gene of Anaplasma phagocytophilumandEhrlichiachaffeensisbynested-polymerasechainreaction(PCR).ResultsThis case was characterized by acute onset of fever,leukopenia and thrombocytopenia.The specific 16S rRNA gene of Anaplasma phagocytophilum was negative and the specific 16S rRNA gene of Ehrlichia chaffeensis was positive by nested PCR test.The PCR product was sequenced.The homology was above 99 ％ between the acquired nucleotide acid sequence and the Ehrlichia chaffeensis sequences registered in GenBank.ConclusionThe Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection exists in Shandong Province,which warrants further research on these natural loci of HME in this area.