Babesiosis

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2015 Jun;29(2):357-70. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2015.02.008.

Abstract

Babesiosis is caused by intraerythrocytic protozoan parasites that are transmitted by ticks, or less commonly through blood transfusion or transplacentally. Human babesiosis was first recognized in a splenectomized patient in Europe but most cases have been reported from the northeastern and upper midwestern United States in people with an intact spleen and no history of immune impairment. Cases are reported in Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and South America. Babesiosis shares many clinical features with malaria and can be fatal, particularly in the elderly and the immunocompromised.

Keywords: Apicomplexa; Babesia microti; Babesiosis; Erythrocyte; Protozoan; Tick; Transfusion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Babesia / isolation & purification*
  • Babesiosis* / diagnosis
  • Babesiosis* / drug therapy
  • Babesiosis* / transmission
  • DNA, Protozoan / analysis
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Erythrocytes / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • DNA, Protozoan
  • Enzyme Inhibitors