Babesiosis

"Texas fever" redirects here. For other uses, see Texas fever (disambiguation).

Babesiosis
Other namesBabesiasis, Texas fever
Blood smear of Babesia microti
Pronunciation
SpecialtyInfectious disease
Symptomsfever, chills, headache, fatigue[1]
Risk factorsRemoved spleen, weakened immune system, doing outdoor activities[1]
Differential diagnosisMalaria

Babesiosis or piroplasmosis is a malaria-like parasitic disease caused by infection with a eukaryotic parasite in the order Piroplasmida, typically a Babesia or Theileria, in the phylum Apicomplexa.[2] Human babesiosis transmission via tick bite is most common in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and parts of Europe, and sporadic throughout the rest of the world. It occurs in warm weather.[3] People can get infected with Babesia parasites by the bite of an infected tick, by getting a blood transfusion from an infected donor of blood products, or by congenital transmission (an infected mother to her baby).[4] Ticks transmit the human strain of babesiosis, so it often presents with other tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease.[5] After trypanosomes, Babesia is thought to be the second-most common blood parasite of mammals. They can have major adverse effects on the health of domestic animals in areas without severe winters. In cattle, the disease is known as Texas cattle fever or redwater.[6]

  1. ^ a b "CDC — Babesiosis". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Archived from the original on 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  2. ^ Berger SA, Marr JS (2006). Human Parasitic Diseases Sourcebook. Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN 978-0-7637-2962-2. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
  3. ^ Prevention CC. "CDC — Babesiosis". www.cdc.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-10-25. Retrieved 2015-10-25.
  4. ^ Prevention CC. "CDC2 - Babesiosis" (PDF). www.cdc.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-07-27. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference NEJM Babesiosis Review was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Hunfeld KP, Hildebrandt A, Gray JS (2008). "Babesiosis: Recent insights into an ancient disease". Int J Parasitol. 38 (11): 1219–37. doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2008.03.001. PMID 18440005.