A CASE-STUDY OF CYTOKINE PROFILES IN ACUTE HUMAN BABESIOSIS

The immune response in a patient with acute babesiosis was determined by measurements of lymphocyte subpopulations, serum levels of cytokine s, and adhesion molecules. The ratio of CD4(+):CD8(+) lymphocytes was reduced early in the infection, but returned to a normal value after t reatment with azithromycin and quinine. Natural killer (NK) cells mark edly increased in the acute phase but progressively decreased and to t he normal range in the convalescent phase. Serum levels of tumor necro sis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6, E-sele ctin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and intercellular adhesion mo lecule-1 were highly elevated in the acute phase while normal levels o f these mediators were observed one month after treatment. These resul ts suggest that CD8(+) T cells and NK cells may be involved in the hos t defense mechanisms against acute babesiosis.