Babesia and Human Babesiosis

Babesia spp. are tick-borne parasites with a global distribution and diversity of vertebrate hosts. Over the next several decades, climate change is expected to impact humans, vectors, and vertebrate hosts and change the epidemiology of Babesia . Although humans are dead-end hosts for tick-transmitted Babesia , human-to-human transmission of Babesia spp. from transfusion of red blood cells and whole blood-derived platelet concentrates has been reported. In most patients, transfusion-transmitted Babesia (TTB) results in a moderate-to-severe illness. Currently, in North America, most cases of TTB have been described in the United States. TTB cases outside North America are rare, but case numbers may change over time with increased recognition of babesiosis and as the epidemiology of Babesia is impacted by climate change. Therefore, TTB is a concern of microbiologists working in blood operator settings, as well as in clinical settings where transfusion occurs. Microbiologists play an important role in deploying blood donor screening assays in Babesia endemic regions, identifying changing risks for Babesia in non-endemic areas, investigating recipients of blood products for TTB, and drafting TTB policies and guidelines. In this review, we provide an overview of the clinical presentation and epidemiology of TTB. We identify approaches and technologies to reduce the risk of collecting blood products from Babesia -infected donors and describe how investigations of TTB are undertaken. We also describe how microbiologists in Babesia non-endemic regions can assess for changing risks of TTB and decide when to focus on laboratory-test-based approaches or pathogen reduction to reduce TTB risk.

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Efficacy of azithromycin combined with compounded atovaquone in treating babesiosis in giant pandas

Ma,

Yue,

et al. 2024

Parasites Vectors

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Background Babesia is a tick-borne protozoan blood parasite that can cause hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, lethargy and splenomegaly in giant pandas. Methods We evaluated the efficacy and safety profile of a therapeutic regimen combining atovaquone and zithromycin in the context of babesiosis in giant pandas that have been naturally infected. The examined pandas underwent clinical and laboratory analyses, including hematology, biochemistry and thyroid hormone profiles. Upon diagnosis, the giant pandas were administered a compounded treatment consisting of atovaquone oral suspension (15 mg/kg, PO, q8 h), azithromycin tablets (10 mg/kg, PO, q24 h) and Enteral Nutritional Suspension (TPF) as a fat-rich supplement (0.5 ml/kg, PO, q8 h) for a 10-day period. Results The combination treatment increased the red blood cell count, hemoglobin levels and hematocrit in the pandas within a short period, while also reducing parasite levels below the PCR detection threshold. Conclusions Our study suggested that atovaquone and azithromycin combination therapy is highly effective for emergency treatment of Babesia sp. infection in giant pandas. Graphical Abstract

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Babesia and Human Babesiosis

Abstract: Babesia is a genus of intraerythrocytic protozoan parasites belonging to the exclusively parasitic phylum Apicomplexa [...]

Cited by 6 publications

References 27 publications

Alveolata Cavalier-Smith 1991

Alveolata Cavalier-Smith 1991

Transfusion-transmitted Babesia spp.: a changing landscape of epidemiology, regulation, and risk mitigation

Efficacy of azithromycin combined with compounded atovaquone in treating babesiosis in giant pandas

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