Update on Babesiosis
Human babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne infectious disease caused by intraerythrocytic protozoan species of the genus Babesia with many clinical features similar to those of malaria. Over the last 50 years, the epidemiology of human babesiosis has changed from a few isolated cases to the establis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2009-01-01
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| Series: | Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/984568 |
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| _version_ | 1832559495576813568 |
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| author | Edouard Vannier Peter J. Krause |
| author_facet | Edouard Vannier Peter J. Krause |
| author_sort | Edouard Vannier |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Human babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne infectious disease caused by intraerythrocytic protozoan species of the genus Babesia with many clinical features similar to those of malaria. Over the last 50 years, the epidemiology of human babesiosis has changed from a few isolated cases to the establishment of endemic areas in the northeastern and midwestern United States. Episodic cases are reported in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. The severity of infection ranges from asymptomatic infection to fulminant disease resulting in death, although the majority of healthy adults experience a mild-to-moderate illness. People over the age of 50 years and immunocompromised individuals are at the highest risk of severe disease, including those with malignancy, HIV, lacking a spleen, or receiving immunosuppressive drugs. Asymptomatic carriers present a blood safety risk when they donate blood. Definitive diagnosis of babesial infection generally is made by microscopic identification of the organism on thin blood smear, amplification of Babesia DNA using PCR, and detection of Babesia antibody in acute and convalescent sera. Specific antimicrobial therapy consists of atovaquone and azithromycin or clindamycin and quinine. Exchange transfusion is used in severe cases. The use of multiple prevention strategies is recommended and consists of personal, residential, and community approaches. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-848d607bce7f48dd87989f3e3b433f73 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-708X 1687-7098 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2009-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-848d607bce7f48dd87989f3e3b433f732025-02-03T01:29:58ZengWileyInterdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases1687-708X1687-70982009-01-01200910.1155/2009/984568984568Update on BabesiosisEdouard Vannier0Peter J. Krause1Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington Street, Box 041, Boston, MA 02111, USADepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale School of Medicine, 60 College Street, Room 600, P.O. Box 208034, New Haven, CT 06520, USAHuman babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne infectious disease caused by intraerythrocytic protozoan species of the genus Babesia with many clinical features similar to those of malaria. Over the last 50 years, the epidemiology of human babesiosis has changed from a few isolated cases to the establishment of endemic areas in the northeastern and midwestern United States. Episodic cases are reported in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. The severity of infection ranges from asymptomatic infection to fulminant disease resulting in death, although the majority of healthy adults experience a mild-to-moderate illness. People over the age of 50 years and immunocompromised individuals are at the highest risk of severe disease, including those with malignancy, HIV, lacking a spleen, or receiving immunosuppressive drugs. Asymptomatic carriers present a blood safety risk when they donate blood. Definitive diagnosis of babesial infection generally is made by microscopic identification of the organism on thin blood smear, amplification of Babesia DNA using PCR, and detection of Babesia antibody in acute and convalescent sera. Specific antimicrobial therapy consists of atovaquone and azithromycin or clindamycin and quinine. Exchange transfusion is used in severe cases. The use of multiple prevention strategies is recommended and consists of personal, residential, and community approaches.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/984568 |
| spellingShingle | Edouard Vannier Peter J. Krause Update on Babesiosis Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases |
| title | Update on Babesiosis |
| title_full | Update on Babesiosis |
| title_fullStr | Update on Babesiosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Update on Babesiosis |
| title_short | Update on Babesiosis |
| title_sort | update on babesiosis |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/984568 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT edouardvannier updateonbabesiosis AT peterjkrause updateonbabesiosis |