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Babesiosis: State-Of-The-Art Clinical Article
Babesiosis: State-Of-The-Art Clinical Article
Babesiosis
Maria R. Boustani and Jeffrey A. Gelfand From the Department of Medicine, Tupper Research Institute, Tufts
University School ofMedicine; and the New England Medical Center,
Boston, Massachusetts
Babesia species are tick-borne, intraerythrocytic protozoa; been identified as causing disease in humans, while in Europe
infection due to these organisms mimics malaria, causing he- B. bovis and B. bigemina, the cattle strains, are implicated.
molysis, fever, anorexia, and hemoglobinuria. Babesia species In the host, intraerythrocytic Babesia species vary in size
.-J
life cycle
in tick 'f
. '.:: Gut cell
~
(10 ·16 Hours)
division
Salivary glands
~
(9-10 months)
(2 years)
Tick
, t .,
life cycle
Figure 1. The life cycle of Ba-
~j
besia microti.
Hosts
for
r
Babesia
life cycle ~v Erythrocytic
cycle
13~ 6~
in host ~~
Diagnosis
ing between patients who have been exposed and those who from tick bites and light-colored clothing that may enable early
are actively infected; an alternative method in this case is the recognition of the tick. Use of tick repellent-such as diethyl-
detection of B. microti DNA by means of PCR. toluamide and dimethyl phthalate-on skin or clothes is rec-
B. microti may be differentiated from other Babesia isolates ommended. Daily examination and removal of ticks with for-
either by intraperitoneal inoculation of infected blood into ceps are crucial, since B. microti and B. burgdorferi require
golden hamsters (a time-consuming procedure that may require attachment for> 24 hours before transmission occurs. In addi-
1- 2 weeks) or by use of a ribosomal DNA probe. tion, pets must be carefully inspected for ticks.
Rapid diagnosis of B. divergens infection is crucial given In areas where babesiosis is endemic, blood donor screening
the fulminant course of the disease. Serological assays and for B. microti by means of PCR would be ideal; in the interim,
gerbil inoculation are used, usually retrospectively, to confirm blood donors who have had a febrile illness within 2 months
rather than establish the diagnosis because ofthe delay involved of donation (between the beginning of May and the end of
(i.e., 1 week for seroconversion and 3-6 days for growth of September) or donors with a history of a tick bite should be
the parasite in the animal). Therefore, rapid diagnosis in such rejected.