BABESIA MICROTI Michael Lehrke

Babesia microti Classification PhylumApicomplexa ClassAconoidasida OrderPiroplasmida FamilyBabesiidae GenusBabesia Speciesmicroti

Babesia microti

Distribution Found worldwide In the US it is particularly prevalent in the northeastern and Midwestern states Yes, Minnesota and Wisconsin!! Some notable areas are Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket Island, Cape Cod, and Long Island

Disease Causes Babesiosis Symptoms: High fever Muscle aches Chills Fatigue Headache Loss of appetite Anemia

Hosts Vector: Deer ticks [Ixodes scapularis, black-legged ticks] Definitive Host: Ticks Intermediate Host: White-footed mouse, deer, cattle, horses, other mammals, (humans) Reservoir Host: Peromyscus leucopus Humans are usually a dead-end host

Life cycle

Diagnosis Suspicion Persistent fevers and hemolytic anemia occurring Blood smear, visualizing “Maltese cross formations” Not in Malaria Multiple smears (infects about 1% of red blood cells) Serological testing (IgG and IgM) PCR Blood counts

Treatment Most people do not require treatment Treated 7-10 days using combination antimicrobial drugs Atovaquone and Azithromycin Clindamycin and Quinine

Prevention Avoid tick exposure Check for ticks Apply diethyltoluamide (DEET) Tick elimination Acaricide-control ticks of domestic animals