Babesiosis

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Babesiosis is a rare malaria-like parasitic disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia, which belongs to the phylum Apicomplexa. While more than 100 species have been reported, only a few have been identified as causing human infections. Babesia microti and Babesia divergens have been identified in most human cases, but variants (considered different species) have been recently identified. The protozoan was first identified in 1888 by Romanian biologist, Victor Babeş, after whom the genus is named. Little is known about the occurrence of Babesia species in malaria-endemic areas where Babesia can easily be misdiagnosed as Plasmodium.

Fulminant presentations include intravascular hemolysis and intravascular red cell cross-shaped inclusions.

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References

Herwaldt BL, Persing DH, Précigout EA, et al. A fatal case of babesiosis in Missouri: Identification of another piroplasm that infect humans. Ann Intern Med 1996;124:643-65.
Pershing DH, Herwaldt BL, Glaser C, et al. Infection with a Babesia-like organism in northern California. N Engl J Med 1995;332:298-303.

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