Ehrlichia is a genus of rickettsiales bacteria. They are transmitted by ticks. Several species can cause infection (Ehrlichiosis) in humans. The genus is named after German microbiologist Paul Ehrlich. These diseases are considered zoonotic as the main reservoir for the pathogen is in animal, usually mammal species.
Ehrlichia are obligately intracellular pathogens and are transported between cells through the host cell filopodia during initial stages of infection, whereas, in the final stages of infection the pathogen ruptures the host cell membrane.
A new species of Ehrlichia has been discovered inside the deer tick Ixodes scapularis. This newly found organism has only been isolated from deer ticks in Wisconsin and Minnesota in the USA. The species is known as Ehrlichia Wisconsin HM543746.
Read more about Ehrlichia: History