The third described case of transfusion‐transmitted <i>Babesia duncani</i>

Bloch, Evan M.; Herwaldt, Barbara L.; Leiby, David A.; Shaieb, Annette; Herron, Ross M.; Chervenak, Michael; Reed, William; Hunter, Robert N.; Ryals, Rosilyn; Hagar, Ward; Xayavong, Maniphet; Slemenda, Susan B.; Pieniążek, Norman J.; Wilkins, Patricia P.; Kjemtrup, Anne

doi:10.1111/j.1537-2995.2011.03467.x

Cited by 78 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…A number of factors, such as increased medical awareness, changes in the parasite’s vector ecology, housing development in the countryside, and a growing population of immunocompromised individuals have likely contributed to this emergence. Of note, there has been an increase in Babesia infections transmitted by blood transfusion concurrent with the emergence of human babesiosis in recent years (Bloch et al, 2012; Johnson et al, 2009; Leiby, 2011; Lobo et al, 2013). Current practices used in the prevention of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis include completing a donor questionnaire to identify potential infected individuals (Leiby, 2011; Lobo et al, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of droplet digital PCR for the detection of Babesia microti and Babesia duncani

Wilson

Glaser

Adams-Fish

et al. 2015

Experimental Parasitology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Babesia spp. are obligate protozoan parasites of red blood cells. Transmission to humans occurs through bites from infected ticks or blood transfusion. Infections with B. microti account for the majority of the reported cases of human babesiosis in the USA. A lower incidence is caused by the more recently described species B. duncani. The current gold standard for detection of Babesia is microscopic examination of blood smears. Recent PCR-based assays, including real-time PCR, have been developed for B. microti. On the other hand, molecular assays that detect and distinguish between B. microti and B. duncani infections are lacking. Closely related species of Babesia can be differentiated due to sequence variation within the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of nuclear ribosomal RNAs. In the present study, we targeted the ITS regions of B. microti and B. duncani to develop sensitive and species-specific droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assays. The assays were shown to discriminate B. microti from B. duncani and resulted in limits of detection of ~10 gene copies. Moreover, ddPCR for these species were useful in DNA extracted from blood of experimentally infected hamsters, detecting infections of low parasitemia that were negative by microscopic examination. In summary, we have developed sensitive and specific quantitative ddPCR assays for the detection of B. microti and B. duncani in blood. Our methods could be used as sensitive approaches to monitor the progression of parasitemia in rodent models of infection as well as serve as suitable molecular tests in blood screening.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of droplet digital PCR for the detection of Babesia microti and Babesia duncani

Wilson

Glaser

Adams-Fish

et al. 2015

Experimental Parasitology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…8 Cases caused by B. duncani infections have ranged from asymptomatic to fatal. 9 Most cases reported on B. divergens infection are severe and most of these severe babesiosis cases occurred in people who lack a spleen. 5,10 The first case of babesiosis infection in an immunocompetent person was reported in 1970.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emergence of human babesiosis along the border of China with Myanmar: detection by PCR and confirmation by sequencing

Zhou¹,

Wang

et al. 2014

Emerging Microbes & Infections

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Babesiosis is a tick-borne, zoonotic disease caused by Babesia spp. Two cases of babesiosis were detected by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in Yunnan province, China, and further confirmed by molecular assay. The blood smears showed intraerythrocytic ring form and tetrads typical of small B. microti. In both cases, the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) ruled out the possibility of co-infections with malaria. Neither case was initially diagnosed because of the low Babesia parasitemia. These two cases of babesiosis in areas along the Myanmar–China border pose the question of the emergence of this under recognized infection in countries or areas where malaria is endemic.

show abstract

“…Additionally, reports of tick-borne cases within new geographical regions, such as in the Pacific Northwest of the United States (7)(8)(9)(10), through Eastern Europe (11)(12)(13), and into China (14)(15)(16)(17), are also on the rise. Further, new Babesia spp.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification and Characterization of the Rhoptry Neck Protein 2 in Babesia divergens and B. microti

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

bApicomplexan parasites include those of the genera Plasmodium, Cryptosporidium, and Toxoplasma and those of the relatively understudied zoonotic genus Babesia. In humans, babesiosis, particularly transfusion-transmitted babesiosis, has been emerging as a major threat to public health. Like malaria, the disease pathology is a consequence of the parasitemia which develops through cyclical replication of Babesia parasites in host erythrocytes. However, there are no exoerythrocytic stages in Babesia, so targeting of the blood stage and associated proteins to directly prevent parasite invasion is the most desirable option for effective disease control. Especially promising among such molecules are the rhoptry neck proteins (RONs), whose homologs have been identified in many apicomplexan parasites. RONs are involved in the formation of the moving junction, along with AMA1, but no RON has been identified and characterized in any Babesia spp. Here we identify the RON2 proteins of Babesia divergens (BdRON2) and B. microti (BmRON2) and show that they are localized apically and that anti-BdRON2 antibodies are significant inhibitors of parasite invasion in vitro. Neither protein is immunodominant, as both proteins react only marginally with sera from infected animals. Further characterization of the direct role of both BdRON2 and BmRON2 in parasite invasion is required, but knowledge of the level of conformity of RON2 proteins within the apicomplexan phylum, particularly that of the AMA1-RON2 complex at the moving junction, along with the availability of an animal model for B. microti studies, provides a key to target this complex with a goal of preventing the erythrocytic invasion of these parasites and to further our understanding of the role of these conserved ligands in invasion.H uman babesiosis is a zoonotic disease caused by protozoan parasites of the Babesia genus, primarily the bovine pathogen Babesia divergens in Europe (1, 2) and the rodent-borne parasite B. microti in the United States (3, 4). Parasites are transmitted by the bite of the ixodid tick when the insect takes a blood meal, and the current understanding of human babesiosis epidemiology is that B. divergens causes acute illness, usually in immunocompromised patients, whereas B. microti can also infect normosplenic immunocompetent individuals, resulting in infections that range from being asymptomatic to chronic. While many infections remain asymptomatic, especially in younger and immunocompetent individuals, the burden of severe pathology is in newborn infants and older or immunocompromised individuals, and fatality rates average 30% to 45% in these susceptible hosts (5). Transfusiontransmitted babesiosis is an emerging threat to public health, as asymptomatic carriers donate blood and there are no approved or regulated tests to screen blood products for this pathogen. As a consequence, since 2011, babesiosis has been a nationally notifiable disease in 18 states in the United States (6).Additionally, reports of tick-borne cases within new geographical...

show abstract

The third described case of transfusion‐transmitted Babesia duncani

Abstract: This patient had the third documented transfusion case caused by B. duncani. His case underscores the fact that babesiosis can be caused by agents not detected by molecular or serologic analyses for B. microti.

Cited by 78 publications

References 21 publications

Development of droplet digital PCR for the detection of Babesia microti and Babesia duncani

Development of droplet digital PCR for the detection of Babesia microti and Babesia duncani

Emergence of human babesiosis along the border of China with Myanmar: detection by PCR and confirmation by sequencing

Identification and Characterization of the Rhoptry Neck Protein 2 in Babesia divergens and B. microti

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About