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Emerging Infectious Diseases Oct 2021Babesiosis developed in a 62-year-old immunocompetent physician, who had an uneventful recovery after receiving atovaquone and azithromycin. Three years later,...
Babesiosis developed in a 62-year-old immunocompetent physician, who had an uneventful recovery after receiving atovaquone and azithromycin. Three years later, babesiosis developed again, and he was again successfully given treatment. Clinical and laboratory evidence were highly supportive of reinfection. Healthcare professionals should be aware that reinfection might occur in babesiosis.
Topics: Babesia; Babesia microti; Babesiosis; Humans; Recurrence; Reinfection
PubMed: 34546166
DOI: 10.3201/eid2710.211240 -
Rhode Island Medical Journal (2013) Aug 2022Human babesiosis is an emerging infectious disease with a progressively rising number of cases in the Northeast over the last few decades. We report a case of fatal...
Human babesiosis is an emerging infectious disease with a progressively rising number of cases in the Northeast over the last few decades. We report a case of fatal babesiosis in a 48-year-old male without significant risk factors for a severe presentation. Clinicians should be aware that even in patients without the classic risk factors of asplenia, advanced age, and immunocompromised status for severe presentations of babesiosis, a deadly case can present. There is a need for further research regarding optimal treatment options for severe babesiosis considering the questionable efficacy of red blood cell exchange (RCE) transfusion in patients who do not improve on the current first-line antimicrobials.
Topics: Babesiosis; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Male; Middle Aged
PubMed: 35881994
DOI: No ID Found -
Trends in Parasitology Jan 2016Ixodes ticks maintain a large and diverse array of human pathogens in the enzootic cycle, including Borrelia burgdorferi and Babesia microti. Despite the poor ecological... (Review)
Review
Ixodes ticks maintain a large and diverse array of human pathogens in the enzootic cycle, including Borrelia burgdorferi and Babesia microti. Despite the poor ecological fitness of B. microti, babesiosis has recently emerged in areas endemic for Lyme disease. Studies in ticks, reservoir hosts, and humans indicate that coinfection with B. burgdorferi and B. microti is common, promotes transmission and emergence of B. microti in the enzootic cycle, and causes greater disease severity and duration in humans. These interdisciplinary studies may serve as a paradigm for the study of other vector-borne coinfections. Identifying ecological drivers of pathogen emergence and host factors that fuel disease severity in coinfected individuals will help guide the design of effective preventative and therapeutic strategies.
Topics: Animals; Arachnid Vectors; Babesia microti; Babesiosis; Borrelia burgdorferi; Coinfection; Humans; Ixodes; Lyme Disease
PubMed: 26613664
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2015.09.008 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Jun 2023Babesiosis is a globally distributed parasitic infection caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa. The full spectrum of neurologic symptoms, the underlying...
Babesiosis is a globally distributed parasitic infection caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa. The full spectrum of neurologic symptoms, the underlying neuropathophysiology, and neurologic risk factors are poorly understood. Our study sought to describe the type and frequency of neurologic complications of babesiosis in a group of hospitalized patients and assess risk factors that might predispose patients to neurologic complications. We reviewed medical records of adult patients who were admitted to Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut, USA, during January 2011-October 2021 with laboratory-confirmed babesiosis. More than half of the 163 patients experienced >1 neurologic symptoms during their hospital admissions. The most frequent symptoms were headache, confusion/delirium, and impaired consciousness. Neurologic symptoms were associated with high-grade parasitemia, renal failure, and history of diabetes mellitus. Clinicians working in endemic areas should recognize the range of symptoms associated with babesiosis, including neurologic.
Topics: Adult; Humans; United States; Babesiosis; Babesia microti; Connecticut; Nervous System Diseases; Parasitemia
PubMed: 37209667
DOI: 10.3201/eid2906.221890 -
Parasites & Vectors May 2021The significance of tick-borne diseases has increased considerably in recent years. Because of the unique distribution of the tick species Dermacentor reticulatus in...
BACKGROUND
The significance of tick-borne diseases has increased considerably in recent years. Because of the unique distribution of the tick species Dermacentor reticulatus in Poland, comprising two expanding populations, Eastern and Western that are separated by a Dermacentor-free zone, it is important to conduct studies on the process of tick expansion and emergence of canine babesiosis. The main aim of the current study was to monitor the expansion of D. reticulatus populations from spring 2016 to autumn 2018 to determine (1) the actual geographical range of this tick species, and (2) and the seasonal/annual shift in range limits and changes in distance between Western and Eastern populations of ticks (the size of the non-endemic area).
METHODS
Ticks were collected in spring/autumn during a 3-year study. From each season and year at least three pairs of sites from the Western and Eastern populations were selected. Then the mean distance between paired sites was calculated for each season and year. We collected and analyzed data from veterinary clinics on the number of canine babesiosis cases treated in the clinic during a whole year (2018).
RESULTS
Accordingly, further expansion of the two D. reticulatus populations was recorded, mainly along river basins. Marked colonization of the gap zone was observed, with a mean annual shift in the range of 2.5-10 km and a steadily decreasing distance between the two tick populations. The occurrence of babesiosis in different regions revealed low numbers of cases in Western Poland (19 cases/year) and the gap area (only 7 cases/year) and high incidence (up to 250 cases/1000 dogs) and fatality (total 3.65%) in Central and Eastern Poland. Strong associations were found geographically between tick and babesiosis occurrence and temporally in the seasonal patterns of occurrence of ticks and outbreaks of babesiosis.
CONCLUSIONS
We documented the shift in range limits and continued process of colonization of the gap zone accompanied by the emergence of canine babesiosis in the Eastern expansion zone. Updated maps of the distribution of ticks and occurrence of babesiosis in different regions of Poland have allowed us to predict of the emergence of pathogens vectored by D. reticulatus. Incidence (per 1000 dogs) of canine babesiosis in veterinary clinics by current range of D. reticulatus.
Topics: Animal Distribution; Animals; Babesia; Babesiosis; Dermacentor; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Female; Male; Poland; Seasons; Tick Infestations; Tick-Borne Diseases
PubMed: 34016152
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04758-7 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2023infection is a tick-borne protozoan disease associated with significant veterinary, economic, and medical importance. This infection affects many hosts, ranging from... (Review)
Review
infection is a tick-borne protozoan disease associated with significant veterinary, economic, and medical importance. This infection affects many hosts, ranging from wild to domestic animals and including man. All vertebrates serve as potential carriers due to the huge diversity of the species. Babesiosis has been associated with severe economic loss in livestock production, especially in cattle farming, and is also a major public health concern in man, which could be fatal. The infection is usually opportunistic, ranging from asymptomatic to symptomatic, usually in immunocompromised subjects or under conditions of stressful management. This study was designed to uncover trends in relation to publication growth and further explore research output regarding babesiosis from data indexed in the WoS. The WoS is the only platform used to map publications on infection. The search term "babesiosis" or " infection" was used to extract articles published across the study period from 1982 to 2022. The inclusion criteria were restricted to only articles for the analysis. The results from the search query showed that a total of 3763 articles were published during the study period with an average of 91.70 ± 43.87 articles annually and an average total citation (n = 1874.8). An annual growth rate of 2.5% was recorded during the study period. The year 2021 had the highest number of published articles (n = 193, 5.1%) and citations (n = 7039). The analysis of the most relevant keywords and titles showed that infection (n = 606, 16.1%), babesiosis (n = 444, 11.7%), and Babesia (n = 1302, 16%) were the most relevant keyword plus (ID), author keyword (DE), and title, respectively. The common conceptual framework analysis through K-means clustering showed two clusters comprising 4 and 41 elements, respectively. The United States of America is the top-performing country in terms of article production (n = 707, 20.8%) and the leading funder for babesiosis research, with two of its agencies ranked at the top. These are the Department of Health and Human Services (n = 254, 6.7%) and the National Institute of Health (n= 238,6.3%). Igarashi I. is the top-performing author (n = 231, 6.1%), while is ranked the top journal (n = 393, 10.4%) in terms of babesiosis publications. Overall, an increase in publications was observed in the study period, with significant output from developed nations.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Cattle; United States; Babesiosis; Babesia; Bibliometrics; Animals, Domestic; Tick-Borne Diseases
PubMed: 37372744
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20126156 -
Blood Nov 2021
Topics: Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Atovaquone; Azithromycin; BNT162 Vaccine; Babesiosis; COVID-19; Fever; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Parasitemia; Remission Induction; SARS-CoV-2; Splenectomy; COVID-19 Drug Treatment
PubMed: 34821934
DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021013947 -
BMC Veterinary Research Mar 2017Canine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by hemoprotozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. The disease can be clinically classified into uncomplicated and...
BACKGROUND
Canine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by hemoprotozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. The disease can be clinically classified into uncomplicated and complicated forms. The aim of this study was to assess the level of endothelial activation and alterations in the fibrinolytic pathway during canine babesiosis.
RESULTS
Blood samples were collected on the day of admission and on the 6th day after treatment with imidocarb propionate, from 30 dogs of various breeds and of both sexes with naturally occurring babesiosis caused by B. canis. In this prospective study, plasminogen activity was assessed using a chromogenic assay, and concentrations of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB-1), intercellular adhesive molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular adhesive molecule-1 (VCAM-1), soluble urokinase receptor of plasminogen activator (suPAR), thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), soluble thrombomodulin (TM) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were determined using a canine specific ELISA. Concentrations of TM, HMGB-1, VCAM-1 and suPAR were increased in dogs with babesiosis at admission compared to healthy dogs. After treatment, concentrations of TM were lower in infected dogs compared to healthy dogs. Dogs with babesiosis also had increased concentrations of TM, ICAM-1 and HMGB-1 and decreased plasminogen and PAI-1 at presentation compared to day 6 after treatment. Dogs with complicated babesiosis had higher concentrations of TM, HMGB1 and TAFI at admission compared to the 6th day.
CONCLUSIONS
Biomarkers of endothelial activation and fibrinolysis were altered in dogs with babesiosis. Further studies into their usefulness as biomarkers of disease severity or prognosis is warranted.
Topics: Animals; Babesiosis; Biomarkers; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Endothelium, Vascular; Female; Fibrinolysis; Male
PubMed: 28363279
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-017-0995-6 -
Memorias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 1992Human babesiosis in Europe came to medical attention in 1957 and until now 19 cases have been reported, most of them due to Babesia divergens. The onset of the disease... (Review)
Review
Human babesiosis in Europe came to medical attention in 1957 and until now 19 cases have been reported, most of them due to Babesia divergens. The onset of the disease is characterized by hemoglobinuria, high fever and renal failure ensue rapidly. The patients were generally asplenic and resident in a rural area. Intraerythrocytic pleomorphic parasites (1-3 microns) observed in stained thin blood smears are essential for Genus diagnosis. Parasitemia varied from 5 to 80% of red blood cells. Massive blood exchange transfusion (2-3 blood volumes) followed by intravenous clindamycin (3-4 times daily) and oral quinine (600 mg base, 3 times daily) were successfully used in the treatment of three recent cases. Splenectomised individuals should be aware for prevention.
Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Babesiosis; Disease Susceptibility; Emergencies; Europe; Humans; Postoperative Complications; Splenectomy
PubMed: 1343681
DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02761992000700019 -
Parasites & Vectors Nov 2014Babesiosis is a typical zoonotic, emerging disease caused by a tick-borne intraerythrocytic protozoan of Babesia spp. that also can be transmitted by blood transfusion.... (Review)
Review
Babesiosis is a typical zoonotic, emerging disease caused by a tick-borne intraerythrocytic protozoan of Babesia spp. that also can be transmitted by blood transfusion. Babesiosis imposes an increasing public-health threat. We reviewed and mapped epidemiological studies on Babesia in vectors and/or rodents in the People's Republic of China (P.R. China) and found that B. microti was the predominant species detected in the investigated regions such as Heilongjiang, Zhejiang, Fujian provinces and Taiwan island. We reviewed a series of sporadic human babesiosis cases collected from 1940's to 2013, in Yunnan, Inner Mongolia, Taiwan and Zhejiang and other regions including a main endemic area of malaria on the China-Myanmar border areas in P.R. China. Clinical manifestations of human babesiosis were also reviewed. Human babesiosis may have previously been overlooked in P.R. China due to a lack of medical awareness and the limitation of clinical diagnostic methods.
Topics: Animals; Babesia; Babesiosis; China; Communicable Diseases, Emerging; Disease Reservoirs; Humans; Tick-Borne Diseases
PubMed: 25403908
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-014-0509-3