Babesiosis

Transmitted to humans through the blood meal of Ixodes ticks, the same vector as for Lyme disease and human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Transfusion-related transmission is emerging as an important secondary mode.

Usually asymptomatic or presents as a mild viral-type illness in young and healthy people. May cause more serious disease or be fatal in asplenic or immunocompromised patients and in older people.

Diagnosis is made by visualisation of parasites on a Giemsa-stained blood smear or by detection of babesial DNA in peripheral blood with polymerase chain reaction.

Management includes observation and monitoring, oral or parenteral antimicrobials, and/or exchange transfusion.

Babesiosis is a tick-borne zoonotic disease typically characterised by fever, haemolysis, and haemoglobinuria. It is most frequently caused by the intra-erythrocytic parasite Babesia microti, commonly transmitted through the bite of Ixodes ticks (deer ticks).[1]Vannier E, Krause PJ. Human babesiosis. N Engl J Med. 2012;366:2397-2407. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22716978?tool=bestpractice.com