Furthermore, A. phagocytophilum infects granulocytes, inducing leukocytopenia, often accompanied, in humans as well as in experimental animal models, by thrombocytopenia and elevated liver enzymes, e.g., Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or Aspartate transaminase (AST) [27]. The gene discussed is GPT; the disease is Thrombocytopenia.