Babesiosis
Parasitic infections
Many possible symptoms
May resemble other diseases
Unreliable tests
Treatments often inappropriate
Can become chronic
Babesiosis
Parasitic infections
Many possible symptoms
May resemble other diseases
Unreliable tests and often inappropriate treatments
No vaccination possible
Can become chronic
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THE INFECTION
What is Lyme borreliosis?
Babesioses are infectious diseases similar to malaria, caused by various parasites of the genus Babesia (B. microti, B. duncani, B. odocoilei, etc.) mainly transmitted by ticks, but also possibly by transfusion, perinatal route or transplantation [ 1 ].
These diseases, well known and studied in the United States, are rarely investigated in patients in Europe after a tick bite, because they are considered rare there. This, in addition to the unreliability of the tests, means that they are probably underdiagnosed [ 2 ].
Of the more than 100 Babesia species discovered, 9 cause infections in humans . The species endemic to the USA (B. microti, B. duncani) are the most studied, as are other lesser-known species (B. divergens, B. venatorum, B. odocoilei) generally present in Europe. Their pathogenicity , more specifically in the context of chronic diseases, is still poorly understood [ 2-3 ].
What is Lyme borreliosis?
Babesia is one of a group of infectious pathogens that can be transmitted by tick bites. When other pathogens are present in addition to Babesia, these are called "co-infections" [ 3 - 4 - 5 ]. In many cases, it is the combination of these different pathogens in the same patient, as well as the complex immune response to their simultaneous presence, that causes severe and disabling chronic symptoms [ 7 - 8 ] .
How is it transmitted?
The various species of Babesia are most often transmitted to humans by ticks. They are found in the three stages of tick development: larva, nymph and adult (see photo below). Thus, one can be bitten by the larvae already infected with Babesia (transovarial transmission) which emerge from the egg in the summer of one year, or the following year by the nymphs in the spring or the adults in the fall (2-year reproductive cycle).
Infected people may not remember a bite, specifically because the larvae and nymphs are very small (about the size of a poppy seed) [ 1 - 2 ].
In addition to the spread of Babesia via ticks, these parasites can infect humans through blood transfusions from infected blood donors. Blood donors are not required to be screened for Babesia in Europe. Furthermore, the parasites can be transmitted from mother to baby during pregnancy or childbirth [ 1 - 2 ].
How many ticks carry Borrelia?
There are no studies on the prevalence of Babesia infections in humans in Switzerland yet. However, publications have shown that between 0.2 and 1.7% of ticks in Switzerland carry a Babesia species [ 9 ].
Averages in Europe are 3.3% in France, 2.2% in Germany, and up to 51% in one publication in Austria [ 10 ].
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