Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites of the genus Babesia cause babesiosis in humans and animals worldwide. Human babesiosis is a predominantly zoonotic disease transmitted by hard ticks that is of increasing health concern in the USA and many other countries. Microscopic examination of stained blood smears, detection of serum antibodies by immunoassays and identification of parasite nucleic acid in blood by qPCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) are some methods available for diagnosing babesiosis. This study investigated the use of a Babesia genus-specific FISH test for detecting Babesia parasites in blood smears and immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for detecting serum antibodies to Babesia duncani and Babesia microti, two common species that cause human babesiosis in the USA. The findings with clinical samples originating from USA, Australia, Europe and elsewhere demonstrate that the parallel use of Babesia genus-specific FISH and IFA tests for B. duncani and B. microti provides more useful diagnostic information in babesiosis and that B. duncani infections are more widespread globally than presently recognized.
Highlights
Apicomplexan protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia cause babesiosis in humans and animals [1,2,3].There were 2161 cases of human babesiosis reported in the USA in 2018 to the US Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention (CDC) [4]
immunofluorescence assay (IFA) tests for B. duncani and B. microti and the Babesia genus-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) test were performed on serum and EDTA-treated blood, respectively, from 390 patients that were received by IGeneX for routine testing for tick borne diseases and babesiosis
Specificity of the B. duncani and B. microti IFA Assays Tested with Sera Positive for Antibodies in Bartonellosis, Ehrlichiosis and Lyme Borreliosis
Summary
Apicomplexan protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia cause babesiosis in humans and animals [1,2,3].There were 2161 cases of human babesiosis reported in the USA in 2018 to the US Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention (CDC) [4]. Apicomplexan protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia cause babesiosis in humans and animals [1,2,3]. There were 2161 cases of human babesiosis reported in the USA in 2018 to the US Centers for Disease. I. ricinus, I. persulcatus and Dermacentor albipictus are some hard ticks that transmit babesiosis to humans after acquiring Babesia species from reservoir animals such as white-footed mice and mule deer [3,4,5]. B. duncani and B. divergens are mainly responsible for human babesiosis in the USA [2,3,4]. B. divergens, B. venatorum and B. crassa are responsible for babesiosis in Eurasia [2,3]. Babesiosis is prevalent in Africa, Australia and South America [2,3]
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