HUMAN BABESIOSIS OR PSEUDO MALARIA

Human babesiosis is a tick-borne hemoprotozoal disease, caused by an i ntraerythrocytic protozoan called Babesia. It invades erythrocytes and multiplies by binary fission inducing cells lysis. Clinical symptoms art: similar to those of falciparum malaria or neuromalaria. In severe cases, intravascular hemolysis is complicated by acute renal failure or pulmonary edema. Death rate reaches 50 % for splenectomized, AIDS, or immunodeficient patients. The diagnosis of babesiosis is establishe d by spotting the intraerythrocytic organism in peripheral-blood smear s. Severe babesiosis is treated with a combination of clindamycin and quinine sulfate. When parasitemia is high, or with seriously ill patie nts. plasmatic exchange can be used, In meat raising and agricultural environment, borrelia infection may be suggested because of the possib ility of co-infection with babesiosis, Furthermore, it should be kept in mind that babesiosis could be transmitted by blood transfusion. Pre vention will be improved with further information, for splenectomized and immunodeficient patients.