Babesiosis is a tick-borne zoonotic infection caused by protozoa of the genus Babesia. The major tick vector in the United States is Ixodes scapularis (blacklegged ticks, or deer ticks), which can also transmit Lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis (formerly known as human granulocytic ehrlichiosis), and Borrelia miyamotoi. Concomitant infections with these pathogens have been described. The main animal reservoir is the white-footed mouse. Babesia species, like Plasmodium, are obligate intracellular parasites of erythrocytes and may cause a malaria-like syndrome of fever and hemolysis.
Babesiosis due to Babesia microti is highly endemic in the following states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Cases are also sporadically reported from many other states including Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Babesia duncani and a B. duncani-like species have been implicated in human babesiosis cases in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Sporadic cases have been noted in other parts of the United States. Babesia divergens occurs in Europe, and other species appear to cause sporadic disease in South America, Asia, and North Africa. Babesiosis can be transmitted via transfusion of contaminated blood products and, rarely, transplacentally.
Babesia species have a complex life cycle that includes asexual reproduction in mammalian host erythrocytes and sexual reproduction in tick vectors. The sporozoite form is injected into the skin of humans by a feeding tick. In erythrocytes, Babesia trophozoites reproduce by binary fission. Two or four merozoites are produced. If four remain close together, this merozoite tetrad form may be seen on Giemsa- or Wright-stained thin smears of blood (as the pathognomonic "Maltese cross"). The emergence of merozoites from erythrocytes causes cell lysis, and new infection of red blood cells ensues. Hemolytic anemia may develop accompanied by tissue hypoxia. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia may also occur.
Immunocompromised patients, particularly surgically or functionally asplenic individuals, are more likely to develop symptomatic disease and severe disease. Other risk factors for severe babesiosis include age greater than 50 years, cancer, human immunodeficiency virus infection, organ transplantation, hemoglobinopathy, chronic heart, lung or liver disease, and receipt of immunomodulatory agents.
The incubation period post-tick bite is 1-6 weeks but may be as long as 9 weeks in transfusion-related infection. Infections are asymptomatic or mild in most immunocompetent individuals. Most symptomatic infections are mild and self-limiting and present as a nonspecific viral-like illness characterized by gradual onset of fatigue, malaise, and fever and one or several of the following symptoms: chills, sweats, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, anorexia, cough, and nausea. There are few findings on physical exam except for fever and occasionally mild splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, or both. With the exception of petechiae and ecchymoses in severe infection, other skin manifestations are not observed.
Complications of more severe infection include acute respiratory failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation, congestive heart failure, lethargy, coma, and renal failure. Mortality rates of 6% to 9% have been reported in patients with severe infection. Most of these cases were in patients older than 50 and with significant comorbidities. Relapse of hemolytic anemia and symptoms is uncommon in treated and otherwise healthy patients, even though parasitemia may persist for over 1 year. Relapsing or persistent disease despite treatment may occur in immunosuppressed individuals.
Codes
ICD10CM: B60.00 – Babesiosis, unspecified
SNOMEDCT: 21061004 – Babesiosis
Look For
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
Other Tick-Borne Illnesses:
Human ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis – No evidence of hemolysis; Giemsa- or Wright-stained peripheral blood smear may show intracytoplasmic morulae in polymorphonucleocytes or monocytes.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever – Look for the rash, which starts peripherally, can involve palms and soles, and may become petechial in nature. Hemolysis is unlikely to occur.
Lyme disease – Look for the presence of the typical rash, erythema chronicum migrans; no hemolysis.
Borrelia miyamotoi infection – Relapsing viral-like febrile illness can occur. Meningitis has been noted in immunocompromised patients. Occurs in areas endemic for Lyme disease in the United States; other cases have been noted in Japan and Russia. No hemolysis.
Tularemia – Look for a painful maculopapular lesion at the entry site that progresses to an ulcer and associated regional tender lymphadenopathy. The "typhoidal" form of tularemia presents without skin or lymph node involvement; no evidence of hemolysis.
Non Vector-Borne Illnesses:
Infectious mononucleosis – Look for atypical lymphocytosis, prominent sore throat, and lymphadenopathy.
Falciparum malaria – Travel / exposure history is important to determine whether the patient is at risk for malaria, babesiosis, or both. Careful examination of blood smears is essential. Tetrad forms are not seen with malaria. Babesia ring forms do not display hemozoin (brown pigment deposits) seen in older ring stages of Plasmodium falciparum.
