Read more about this disease, some with Classification – Types – Signs and symptoms – Genetics – Pathophysiology – Diagnosis – Screening – Prevention – Treatment and management – Cures and much more, some including pictures and video when available.
Babesiosis is a malaria-like parasitic disease caused by Babesia, a genus of protozoal piroplasms.[1] After trypanosomes, Babesia are thought to be the second most common blood parasites of mammals and they can have a major impact on health of domestic animals in areas without severe winters. Human babesiosis is uncommon, but reported cases have risen recently because of expanded medical awareness.[2]
The disease is named for the genus of the causative organism,[3] which was in turn named after the bacteriologist Victor Babes.[4] Equine babesiosis is also known as piroplasmosis.
Babesiosis is a vector-borne illness usually transmitted by Ixodid ticks. Babesia microti uses the same tick vector, Ixodes scapularis, as Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis, and may occur in conjunction with these other diseases. In endemic areas, the organism can also be transmitted by blood transfusion. In North America, the disease exists mostly in eastern Long-Island and its barrier island, Fire Island, and the islands off the coast of Massachusetts. [5] It is sometimes called “The Malaria of The Northeast.”
Cases of babesiosis have been reported in a wide range of European countries. Disease in Europe is usually due to infection with Babesia divergens, while in the United States Babesia microti and Babesia duncani are the species most commonly associated with human disease. Babesiosis has also been observed in Korea.[6]
Most cases of babesia infection are asymptomatic or include mild fevers and anemia and go unnoticed. In more severe cases, there are symptoms similar to malaria, with fevers up to 105°F / 40°C, shaking chills, and severe anemia (hemolytic anemia). Organ failure may follow including adult respiratory distress syndrome. Severe cases occur mostly in people who have had their spleen removed surgically. Severe cases are also more likely to occur in the very young, very old, and persons with immunodeficiency, such as HIV/AIDS patients. Some people with babesiosis have additional tick-borne illnesses, such as Lyme disease.[2].
A reported increase in babesiosis diagnoses in recent years is thought to be caused by more widespread testing and higher numbers of people with immunodeficiencies coming in contact with ticks, the disease vector.[2]
Little is known about the occurrence of Babesia species in malaria-endemic areas, where Babesia can easily be misdiagnosed as Plasmodium.
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