Comment; Babesia can be an occult infection-hard to find, hard to treat, supresses the immune system. With those genetically susceptible to CIRS it compounds the already impaired/dysregulated immune system leading to worse outcomes. Diagnostic avenues are improving but we must maintain a high index of suspicion to even test for it. Treatment can still be difficult. Persistance/recurrence occurs.
Evan M. Bloch 1,Sanjai Kumar 2 andPeter J. Krause 3,*1Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, MD 21287, USA2Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA3Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520 USA*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.Pathogens2019, 8(3), 102; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens8030102Received: 25 June 2019 / Revised: 12 July 2019 / Accepted: 13 July 2019 / Published: 17 July 2019(This article belongs to the Special Issue Persistence in Babesia) Full-Text | PDF [1321 KB, uploaded 17 July 2019] | Figures
Abstract
Persistent infection is a characteristic feature of babesiosis, a worldwide, emerging tick-borne disease caused by members of the genus Babesia.Persistence of Babesia infection in reservoir hosts increases the probability of survival and transmission of these pathogens. Laboratory tools to detect Babesia in red blood cells include microscopic detection using peripheral blood smears, nucleic acid detection (polymerase chain reaction and transcription mediated amplification), antigen detection, and antibody detection. Babesia microti, the major cause of human babesiosis, can asymptomatically infect immunocompetent individuals for up to two years. Chronically infected blood donors may transmit the pathogen to another person through blood transfusion. Transfusion-transmitted babesiosis causes severe complications and death in about a fifth of cases. Immunocompromised patients, including those with asplenia, HIV/AIDS, malignancy, or on immunosuppressive drugs, often experience severe disease that may relapse up to two years later despite anti-Babesia therapy. Persistent Babesia infection is promoted by Babesiaimmune evasive strategies and impaired host immune mechanisms. The health burden of persistent and recrudescent babesiosis can be minimized by development of novel therapeutic measures, such as new anti-parasitic drugs or drug combinations, improved anti-parasitic drug duration strategies, or immunoglobulin preparations; and novel preventive approaches, including early detection methods, tick-avoidance, and blood donor screening. View Full-Text
- COVID UPDATE: What is the truth? - 2022-11-08
- Pathologist Speaks Out About COVID Jab Effects - 2022-07-04
- A Massive Spike in Disability is Most Likely Due to a Wave of Vaccine Injuries - 2022-06-30
