Babesiosis

2000 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 451-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary J. Homer ◽  
Irma Aguilar-Delfin ◽  
Sam R. Telford ◽  
Peter J. Krause ◽  
David H. Persing
Keyword(s):  
Disease Process ◽  
The United States ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
Blood Parasites ◽  
Babesia Microti ◽  
Disease Manifestation ◽  
Transmission Cycle ◽  
Immunological Responses ◽  
Babesia Divergens ◽  
Vertebrate Hosts

SUMMARY Babesiosis is an emerging, tick-transmitted, zoonotic disease caused by hematotropic parasites of the genus Babesia. Babesial parasites (and those of the closely related genus Theileria) are some of the most ubiquitous and widespread blood parasites in the world, second only to the trypanosomes, and consequently have considerable worldwide economic, medical, and veterinary impact. The parasites are intraerythrocytic and are commonly called piroplasms due to the pear-shaped forms found within infected red blood cells. The piroplasms are transmitted by ixodid ticks and are capable of infecting a wide variety of vertebrate hosts which are competent in maintaining the transmission cycle. Studies involving animal hosts other than humans have contributed significantly to our understanding of the disease process, including possible pathogenic mechanisms of the parasite and immunological responses of the host. To date, there are several species of Babesia that can infect humans, Babesia microti being the most prevalent. Infections with Babesia species generally follow regional distributions; cases in the United States are caused primarily by B. microti, whereas cases in Europe are usually caused by Babesia divergens. The spectrum of disease manifestation is broad, ranging from a silent infection to a fulminant, malaria-like disease, resulting in severe hemolysis and occasionally in death. Recent advances have resulted in the development of several diagnostic tests which have increased the level of sensitivity in detection, thereby facilitating diagnosis, expediting appropriate patient management, and resulting in a more accurate epidemiological description.

scholarly journals Inhibitory effects of fluoroquinolone antibiotics on Babesia divergens and Babesia microti, blood parasites of veterinary and zoonotic importance

2018 ◽  
Vol Volume 11 ◽  
pp. 1605-1615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abdo Rizk ◽  
Mahmoud AbouLaila ◽  
Shimaa Abd El-Sayed ◽  
Azirwan Guswanto ◽  
Naoaki Yokoyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Parasites ◽  
Babesia Microti ◽  
Inhibitory Effects ◽  
Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics ◽  
Babesia Divergens

scholarly journals The Global Emergence of Human Babesiosis

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1447
Author(s):  
Abhinav Kumar ◽  
Jane O'Bryan ◽  
Peter J. Krause
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
The United States ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
Babesia Microti ◽  
Babesia Species ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Endemic Disease ◽  
Predominant Species ◽  
Human Babesiosis

Babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa that are primarily transmitted by hard-bodied (Ixodid) ticks and rarely through blood transfusion, perinatally, and organ transplantation. More than 100 Babesia species infect a wide spectrum of wild and domestic animals worldwide and six have been identified as human pathogens. Babesia microti is the predominant species that infects humans, is found throughout the world, and causes endemic disease in the United States and China. Babesia venatorum and Babesia crassa-like agent also cause endemic disease in China. Babesia divergens is the predominant species in Europe where fulminant cases have been reported sporadically. The number of B. microti infections has been increasing globally in recent decades. In the United States, more than 2000 cases are reported each year, although the actual number is thought to be much higher. In this review of the epidemiology of human babesiosis, we discuss epidemiologic tools used to monitor disease location and frequency; demographics and modes of transmission; the location of human babesiosis; the causative Babesia species in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia; the primary clinical characteristics associated with each of these infections; and the increasing global health burden of this disease.

The effect of Babesia microti on feeding and survival in its tick vector, Ixodes trianguliceps

Parasitology ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Randolph
Keyword(s):  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
Babesia Microti ◽  
Tick Vector ◽  
Feeding Success ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Vertebrate Hosts ◽  
Ixodes Trianguliceps ◽  
Patent Infection

SUMMARYEvidence is presented that Babesia microti may promote its transmission amongst rodents by enhancing the feeding success and survival of its tick vector, Ixodes trianguliceps. Both the mean engorged weight of larval ticks and the percentage moult of larvae to nymphs increased as larvae fed on naive hosts later in the parasitaemic cycle up to a point a few days beyond the loss of a patent infection. This increased feeding success and survival was not dependent on the level of infection by B. microti. Two possible, host-mediated mechanisms for the observed parasite–vector interactions are suggested, the anti-haemostatic effects induced by babesiosis and the interaction of the immunosuppressive effects of Babesia and the development of immunity to ixodid ticks by their vertebrate hosts.

scholarly journals Human babesiosis: Recent discoveries

2004 ◽  
Vol 57 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 349-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanja Mitrovic ◽  
Ivana Kranjcic-Zec ◽  
Valentina Arsic-Arsenijevic ◽  
Aleksandar Dzamic ◽  
Ivana Radonjic
Keyword(s):  
T Cell Response ◽  
Babesia Microti ◽  
Transmission Cycle ◽  
Babesia Divergens ◽  
Blood Smears ◽  
Animal Infection ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Indirect Immunofluorescent ◽  
Human Babesiosis

Introduction Babesiosis is caused by intraerythrocytic parasites of the genus Babesia, which is a common animal infection worldwide. This protozoa requires both a competent vertebrate and a nonvertebrate host (Ixodes sp. etc.) to maintain the transmission cycle. Human babesiosis Human babesiosis is predominantly caused by Babesia microti (rodent-borne piroplasm, an emerging zoonosis in humans in North America) and by Babesia divergens (bovine pathogen, in Europe). Occasionally, infection in America is caused also by a newly recognized species, so-called WA1 piroplasm. The spectrum of human babesiosis in the USA is broad, and ranges from an apparently silent infection to a fulminant. In Europe, babesiosis is considerably rarer, but more lethal (42% mortality rate in Europe and 5% in the USA, for clinically apparent infections) and mostly in splenectomized patients. Various determinants are involved in the severity of infection, such as age, immunocompetence and coinfection with other pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi). B. microti antigens can trigger specific activation of T-cells and the infection can be effectively controlled by a Th1-dominant CD4% T-cell response. The diagnosis of babesiosis should include examination of blood smears stained by Giemsa, as well as serologic evaluation with indirect immunofluorescent antibody tests and possibly PCR. The treatment of babesiosis depends on severity of cases; if it is mild it resolves spontaneously, whereas very severe cases with B. divergens require prompt treatment that includes erythrocyte exchange transfusion along with intravenous clindamycin and oral quinine to arrest hemolysis and prevent renal failure. This paper offers an overview of recent developments in the investigation of Babesia sp. and babesiosis. .

Mosquito and Tick-borne Illnesses in the United States. Guidelines for the Recognition and Empiric Treatment of Zoonotic Diseases in the Wilderness.

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-257
Author(s):  
Suresh Antony
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever ◽  
Number Of Patients

Background:In the United States, tick-borne illnesses account for a significant number of patients that have been seen and treated by health care facilities. This in turn, has resulted in a significant morbidity and mortality and economic costs to the country.Methods:The distribution of these illnesses is geographically variable and is related to the climate as well. Many of these illnesses can be diagnosed and treated successfully, if recognized and started on appropriate antimicrobial therapy early in the disease process. Patient with illnesses such as Lyme disease, Wet Nile illness can result in chronic debilitating diseases if not recognized early and treated.Conclusion:This paper covers illnesses such as Lyme disease, West Nile illness, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, Ehrlichia, Tularemia, typhus, mosquito borne illnesses such as enteroviruses, arboviruses as well as arthropod and rodent borne virus infections as well. It covers the epidemiology, clinical features and diagnostic tools needed to make the diagnosis and treat these patients as well.

Telemedicine for Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (TELE-IBD) Clinical Trial: Qualitative Assessment of Participants’ Perceptions of the TELE-IBD Intervention (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlene C Quinn ◽  
Sarah Chard ◽  
Erin G Roth ◽  
J. Kevin Eckert ◽  
Katharine M Russman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Remote Monitoring ◽  
Standard Care ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
The United States ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Inflammatory Bowel

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), comprising Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affects 1 to 3 million people in the United States. Telemedicine has shown promise in IBD. The objective of the parent study, TELE-IBD, was to compare disease activity and quality of life (QoL) in a one-year randomized clinical trial of IBD patients receiving telemedicine versus standard care. Treatment groups experienced improvements in disease activity and QoL but there was not significant differences between groups. Study adherence to the text-based intervention was less than the 80% of the targeted goal. OBJECTIVE To understand adherence to remote monitoring, the goal of this qualitative assessment was to obtain TELE-IBD trial participants’ perceptions of the TELE-IBD system, including their recommendations for future TELE-IBD monitoring. METHODS In the parent study, patients attending three tertiary referral centers with worsening IBD symptoms in the previous two years were eligible for randomization to remote monitoring via texts every other week (EOW), weekly (W) or standard care. Participants (n=348) were evenly enrolled in the treatment groups and 259 (74.4%) completed the study. For this study, a purposive sample of adherent (N=15) and non-adherent (N=14) patients was drawn from the TELE-IBD trial population. Adherence was defined as the completion of 80% or more of the W or EOW self-assessments. Semi-structured interviews conducted by phone surveyed 1) the strengths and benefits of TELE-IBD; 2) challenges associated with using TELE-IBD; and 3) how to improve the TELE-IBD intervention. Interviews were recorded, professionally transcribed, and coded based on a priori concepts and emergent themes with the aid of ATLAS.ti qualitative data analysis software. RESULTS Participants' discussions centered on three elements of the intervention: 1) self-assessment questions, 2) action plans, and 3) educational messages. Participants also commented on: text-based platform, depression and adherence, TELE-IBD system in place of office visit, and their recommendations for future TELE-IBD systems. Adherent and non-adherent participants prefer a flexible system that is personalized, including targeted education messages, and they perceive TELE-IBD as effective in facilitating IBD self-management. CONCLUSIONS Participants identified clear benefits to the TELE-IBD system, including obtaining a better understanding of the disease process, monitoring their symptoms, and feeling connected to their health care provider. Participants' perceptions obtained in this qualitative study will assist in improving the TELE-IBD system to be more responsive to patients with IBD. CLINICALTRIAL NCT01692743

scholarly journals Spiroplasma Infection among Ixodid Ticks Exhibits Species Dependence and Suggests a Vertical Pattern of Transmission

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 333
Author(s):  
Shohei Ogata ◽  
Wessam Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed ◽  
Kodai Kusakisako ◽  
May June Thu ◽  
Yongjin Qiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
16S Rdna ◽  
Tick Species ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Horizontal Transmission ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Transmission Cycle ◽  
Frequent Event ◽  
Pcr Targeting

Members of the genus Spiroplasma are Gram-positive bacteria without cell walls. Some Spiroplasma species can cause disease in arthropods such as bees, whereas others provide their host with resistance to pathogens. Ticks also harbour Spiroplasma, but their role has not been elucidated yet. Here, the infection status and genetic diversity of Spiroplasma in ticks were investigated using samples collected from different geographic regions in Japan. A total of 712 ticks were tested for Spiroplasma infection by PCR targeting 16S rDNA, and Spiroplasma species were genetically characterized based on 16S rDNA, ITS, dnaA, and rpoB gene sequences. A total of 109 samples originating from eight tick species were positive for Spiroplasma infection, with infection rates ranging from 0% to 84% depending on the species. A linear mixed model indicated that tick species was the primary factor associated with Spiroplasma infection. Moreover, certain Spiroplasma alleles that are highly adapted to specific tick species may explain the high infection rates in Ixodes ovatus and Haemaphysalis kitaokai. A comparison of the alleles obtained suggests that horizontal transmission between tick species may not be a frequent event. These findings provide clues to understand the transmission cycle of Spiroplasma species in wild tick populations and their roles in host ticks.

scholarly journals Global Distribution of Babesia Species in Questing Ticks: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Based on Published Literature

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 230
Author(s):  
ThankGod E. Onyiche ◽  
Cristian Răileanu ◽  
Susanne Fischer ◽  
Cornelia Silaghi
Keyword(s):  
Tick Species ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
Babesia Microti ◽  
Babesia Species ◽  
Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Questing Ticks ◽  
Veterinary Importance

Babesiosis caused by the Babesia species is a parasitic tick-borne disease. It threatens many mammalian species and is transmitted through infected ixodid ticks. To date, the global occurrence and distribution are poorly understood in questing ticks. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to estimate the distribution of the pathogen. A deep search for four electronic databases of the published literature investigating the prevalence of Babesia spp. in questing ticks was undertaken and obtained data analyzed. Our results indicate that in 104 eligible studies dating from 1985 to 2020, altogether 137,364 ticks were screened with 3069 positives with an estimated global pooled prevalence estimates (PPE) of 2.10%. In total, 19 different Babesia species of both human and veterinary importance were detected in 23 tick species, with Babesia microti and Ixodesricinus being the most widely reported Babesia and tick species, respectively. Regardless of species, adult ticks with 2.60% had the highest infection rates, while larvae had the least with 0.60%. Similarly, female ticks with 4.90% were infected compared to males with 3.80%. Nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 2.80% had the highest prevalence among the molecular techniques employed. In conclusion, results obtained indicate that Babesia species are present in diverse questing tick species at a low prevalence, of which some are competent vectors.

Vascular Fluid Mechanics, the Arterial Wall, and Atherosclerosis

1992 ◽  
Vol 114 (3) ◽  
pp. 274-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Nerem
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Fluid Mechanics ◽  
Arterial Wall ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
The United States ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Important Relationship ◽  
And Function

Atherosclerosis, a disease of large- and medium-size arteries, is the chief cause of death in the United States and in most of the western world. Severe atherosclerosis interferes with blood flow; however, even in the early stages of the disease, i.e. during atherogenesis, there is believed to be an important relationship between the disease processes and the characteristics of the blood flow in the arteries. Atherogenesis involves complex cascades of interactions among many factors. Included in this are fluid mechanical factors which are believed to be a cause of the highly focal nature of the disease. From in vivo studies, there is evidence of hemodynamic influences on the endothelium, on intimal thickening, and on monocyte recruitment. In addition, cell culture studies have demonstrated the important effect of a cell’s mechanical environment on structure and function. Most of this evidence is for the endothelial cell, which is believed to be a key mediator of any hemodynamic effect, and it is now well documented that cultured endothelial monolayers, in response to a fluid flow-imposed laminar shear stress, undergo a variety of changes in structure and function. In spite of the progress in recent years, there are many areas in which further work will provide important new information. One of these is in the engineering of the cell culture environment so as to make it more physiologic. Animal studies also are essential in our efforts to understand atherogenesis, and it is clear that we need better information on the pattern of the disease and its temporal development in humans and animal models, as well as the specific underlying biologic events. Complementary to this will be in vitro model studies of arterial fluid mechanics. In addition, one can foresee an increasing role for computer modelling in our efforts to understand the pathophysiology of the atherogenic process. This includes not only computational fluid mechanics, but also modelling the pathobiologic processes taking place within the arterial wall. A key to the atherogenic process may reside in understanding how hemodynamics influences not only intimal smooth muscle cell proliferation, but also the recruitment of the monocyte/macrophage and the formation of foam cells. Finally, it will be necessary to begin to integrate our knowledge of cellular phenomena into a description of the biologic processes within the arterial wall and then to integrate this into a picture of the disease process itself.

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