Fatal Babesiosis in Man, Finland, 2004

Haapasalo, Karita; Suomalainen, Pekka; Sukura, Antti; Siikamäki, Heli; Jokiranta, T. Sakari

doi:10.3201/eid1607.091905

Cited by 51 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Positive control sera were collected from B. divergens-infected cattle in France [26]. The human positive control serum was a kind gift from Dr. Maija Lappalainen, Helsinki University (HusLab; Finland), and originated from a fatal clinical case attributed to B. divergens in a 53-year-old man [27]. This serum was first screened for reactivity against B. divergens and Babesia sp.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A retrospective serological survey on human babesiosis in Belgium

Lempereur¹,

Shiels²,

Heyman³

et al. 2015

Clinical Microbiology and Infection

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In Europe, most clinical babesiosis cases in humans have been attributed to Babesia divergens and Babesia sp. EU1. Babesia microti infection of humans occurs mainly in the United States; although a case of autochthonous B. microti infection and serological evidence of infection have been reported in Europe. The Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test was used to screen sera from 199 anonymous Belgian patients with history of tick bite and clinical symptoms compatible with a tick-borne disease. The serological screen detected positive reactivity in 9% (n = 18), 33.2% (n = 66), and 39.7% (n = 79) of the samples against B. microti, B. divergens, and Babesia sp. EU1, respectively. Thus, evidence of contact among three potentially zoonotic species of Babesia and humans has been confirmed in Belgium. Preventive action and development of better diagnostic tools should help in prevention of clinical cases and to clarify the true burden of such infection for individuals and public health.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A retrospective serological survey on human babesiosis in Belgium

Lempereur¹,

Shiels²,

Heyman³

et al. 2015

Clinical Microbiology and Infection

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“…With regard to the Nordic European countries, a severe case of human B. divergens infection was reported in Sweden in 1992, 2 and a fatal case was reported from Finland in 2010. 3 We report the characteristics, treatment, and outcome of an autochthonous case of severe human babesiosis in Norway.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Severe human Babesia divergens infection in Norway

Mørch

Holmaas

Frolander

et al. 2015

International Journal of Infectious Diseases

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Human babesiosis is a rare but potentially life-threatening parasitic disease transmitted by ixodid ticks, and has not previously been reported in Norway. We report a case of severe babesiosis that occurred in Norway in 2007. The patient had previously undergone a splenectomy. He was frequently exposed to tick bites in an area endemic for bovine babesiosis in the west of Norway. The patient presented with severe haemolysis and multiorgan failure. Giemsa-stained blood smears revealed 30% parasitaemia with Babesia spp. He was treated with quinine in combination with clindamycin, apheresis, and supportive treatment with ventilatory support and haemofiltration, and made a complete recovery. This is the first case reported in Norway; however Babesia divergens seroprevalence in cattle in Norway is high, as is the risk of Ixodes ricinus tick bite in the general population. Babesiosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained febrile haemolytic disease.

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“…Editor, Serpentine supravenous hyperpigmentation is increased pigmentation overlying superficial veins, most often reported in association with chemotherapy infusion, rarely in rheumatologic disease, and once with babesiosis infection. [1][2][3][4] The pathophysiology of the hyperpigmentation is yet to be fully elucidated but may involve endothelial injury from infusion factors or autoantibodies with resultant alterations in melanin synthesis or melanosome packaging. We present a case of serpentine supravenous hyperpigmentation in a patient with autoimmune hemolytic anemia and provide evidence that the finding is secondary to superficial venous thrombosis.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The clinical findings in this case of supravenous hyperpigmentation, massive hemolysis, multi organ failure, eventual invasive fungemia, and rapid death are strikingly similar to those in a reported case of fatal babesiosis. 4 Babesiosis is a parasite infection transmitted by an arthropod bite that is capable of lysing erythrocytes, resulting in hemolytic anemia and, rarely, death, most often in patients who have undergone previous splenectomy. 4 Our patient had no known underlying medical problems, a normal spleen, and a peripheral blood smear without intraerythrocytic parasites, which make a diagnosis of babesiosis unlikely.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%