Abstract
We report on the first case of human babesiosis in Korea. The intraerythrocytic parasite (KO1) in the patient's blood mainly appeared as paired pyriforms and ring forms; but Maltese cross forms were not seen, and the parasite showed morphological features consistent with those of the genus Babesia sensu stricto. The sequence of the 18S rRNA gene of KO1 was closely related to that of Babesia spp. isolated from sheep in China (similarity, 98%). The present study provides the first evidence of the presence of a hitherto unidentified, new type of Babesia parasite capable of infecting humans.
Publication types
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Case Reports
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Animals
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Babesia / classification*
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Babesia / genetics
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Babesia / isolation & purification*
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Babesiosis / diagnosis*
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Babesiosis / epidemiology*
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Babesiosis / parasitology
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China / epidemiology
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DNA, Protozoan / analysis
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DNA, Ribosomal / analysis
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Erythrocytes / parasitology
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Female
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Humans
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Korea / epidemiology
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Phylogeny
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Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
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RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / genetics
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Sequence Analysis, DNA
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Sheep / parasitology
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Sheep Diseases / epidemiology
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Sheep Diseases / parasitology*
Substances
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DNA, Protozoan
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DNA, Ribosomal
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RNA, Ribosomal, 18S