Babesiosis

Babesiosis is a disease caused by the protozoan Babesia and transmitted by ticks. It is a rare disease that more often affects post-splenectomy and immunodeficient persons. It is often accompanied by Lyme disease (up to 25%).

Etiology

 * Protozoa of the genus Babesia, mostly species of B. divergens or B. bovis,
 * lives in erythrocytes

Clinical presentation

 * Fatigue, lack of appetite, joint and muscle pain, depression, cough, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath.
 * Fever, liver enlargement, muscle pain, chills, jaundice.
 * Dark urine (hemoglobinuria, proteinuria).

Diagnostics

 * Blood smear stained with Giemsa - traces of parasites inside the red blood cells (round forms, non-pigmented zones, teratrades resembling the Maltese Cross, etc.).
 * Serology - specific antibodies.
 * Hemolytic anemia, leukocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, atypical lymphocytes. Increased erythrocyte sedimentation.
 * Increased liver tests.

Therapy

 * Imidocarb,
 * Antibiotics (klindamycin, azitromycin).

Related articles

 * Ixodes ricinus
 * Klíšťová encefalitida
 * Lymeská borrelióza
 * Anaplazmóza (ehrlichióza)