Babesiosis - A tick borne Human Disease

The arboviral and zoonotic diseases are a huge challenge in India leading to increased morbidity and mortality in humans. Babesiosis?is a rare and life-threatening infection of the red blood cells?that's usually spread by ticks. Babesiosis?, caused by infection with intraerythrocytic parasites of the genus??Babesia?, is one of the most common infections of free-living animals worldwide and is gaining increasing interest as an emerging zoonosis in humans. All Babesial parasites described to date are transmitted by?Ixodid?ticks to their vertebrate hosts. So far one human case is known in India. However, Bovine babesiosis?are reported at many places and is a serious threat to the livestock sector especially in tropical countries like India.?Bovine babesiosis was reported from 21 states of India with pooled prevalence estimate of 6% (95% CI?=?4%–9%) using random effect model. It's caused by tiny parasites?called Babesia, Babesia microti. The kind that most often affects humans is a tick. They enter your bloodstream when you're bitten by an infected deer tick. Other ways babesiosis can spread include contaminated blood?transfusions and pregnant, infected mother passing it to their baby?in the womb or during birth. It usually happens in the warmer months.?Ticks?carry the parasite and cause the disease.

Signs of babesiosis start 1 to 8 weeks after you come in contact with the parasite that causes the disease. Normally symptoms are not visible. The visible symptoms could be Body aches, chills, fatigue, fever, headache, loss of appetite, swetting and also can get a condition called hemolytic anemia?in which their red blood cells die before new ones are produced. Symptoms are: confusion, dark-colored urine, dizziness, heart murmer, rapid heart rate, swelling of spleen?and liver, pale skin, weakness and yellow skin, eyes, and mouth (jaundice).

Diagnosis

Blood test is done to look for Babesia in the blood under a microscope.

Treatment and Prevention

A drug atovaquone that kills microorganisms is prescribed along with the antibiotic azithromycin.?Another combination they may recommend is quinine with the antibiotic clindamycin. The ticks that cause babesiosis typically have to stay on your body for 36 to 48 hours to cause an infection. Here are some ways to prevent the disease -?

1. Stay away from overgrown grasses and leaf piles, where ticks are likely to be.
2. Wear long pants tucked into your socks and a long-sleeve shirt when you're near where ticks thrive.
3. Wear light-colored clothes so you can easily spot ticks.
4. Use bug repellant that has DEET in it on your skin and clothing.
5. Before going indoors, check your clothing and pets for ticks.
6. Once inside, check your entire body for ticks using a full-length or hand-held mirror.
7. Remove any ticks with pointed tweezers.

Source: WebMd