Babesiosis overview
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Babesiosis overview On the Web |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Babesiosis is an uncommon malaria-like parasitic disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. Babesiosis is a vector-borne illness usually transmitted by ticks. (Babesia microti uses the same tick vector, Ixodes scapularis, as Lyme disease does, and frequently occurs in conjunction with it.)
Pathophysiology
Babesia parasites reproduce in red blood cells, where they can be seen as cross-shaped inclusions (4 merozoites asexually budding but attached together forming a structure looking like a "Maltese Cross") and cause hemolytic anemia, quite similar to malaria.Note that unlike the Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria, Babesia species lack an exo-erythrotic phase, so the liver is usually not affected.
Causes
In the United States, babesiosis usually is caused by a parasite called "Babesii microti". The parasite attacks red blood cells in much the same way as the parasite that causes malaria. When a Babesia-infected tick bites a person, it introduces parasites that may cause symptoms of the disease.