Master Babesia with Picmonic for Medicine

Babesia is a protozoan, which is a unicellular eukaryotic organism.

This disease is transmitted by the Ixodes tick, which is the same vector that transmits Borrelia burgdorferi, the organism responsible for Lyme disease, and Ehrlichiosis. Be aware that while this may appear as minutia from the broader, clinically relevant aspects of the disease, vectors are commonly tested subjects and there are several different vector-borne illnesses with relatively similar, nonspecific symptomatology to be familiar with.

This disease is transmitted by the Ixodes tick, which is the same vector that transmits Borrelia burgdorferi. Sometimes, individuals can be infected with both diseases simultaneously.

This disease is endemic in the northeastern United States. Notable highly endemic areas include Nantucket Island, Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod, some suburbs of Boston, counties east of the Hudson River, portions of Rhode Island, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Patients who are immunocompromised or without an intact, operational immune response, such as those who are asplenic, are at a much greater risk for severe babesiosis. Severe babesiosis can result in catastrophic complications that include acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), congestive heart failure (CHF) and even acute renal failure (ARF).

Babesiosis often presents with symptoms similar to malaria, including high fevers and shaking chills.

Babesia microti infects and reproduces in red blood cells, resulting in cell lysis, producing a hemolytic anemia.

It is important to know that the incorporation of a peripheral blood smear is beneficial in diagnosing babeiosis, since this parasite resides inside RBCs and forms a characteristic Maltese cross pattern from four, asexually budding merozoites.

Babesia microti infects and reproduces in red blood cells, where they can be visualized by the pathognomonic Maltese cross inclusions on blood smear. The Maltese cross formation is caused by four merozoites that are budding asexually.

Atovaquone is an analog of ubiquinone, and this antipneumocytic drug is also used in the treatment of babesiosis, often in conjunction with the macrolide antibiotic, azithromycin. This regimen is commonly instituted for seven to ten days. A less tolerated alternative consists of the combination of quinine and clindamycin.

Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic that is often coupled with atovaquone for a seven to ten day regimen in the treatment of babesiosis. A lesser tolerated alternative consists of the combination of quinine and clindamycin.