Babesiosis

Abstract

Babesia spp. are protozoan parasites defining separate lineages in the Apicomplexa phylum and phylogenetically closely related to Theileria , and less closely to Plasmodium species. These parasites are transmitted primarily by ticks to a wide range of domestic and wild animals as well as humans, where they develop within the host red blood cells to cause the pathological symptoms associated with babesiosis. The widespread distribution of these parasites throughout the world, their recognition as emerging pathogens and the major economic and health impacts of babesiosis have stimulated major research efforts to understand the basic biology, pathogenesis, evolution and transmission patterns of these organisms. Key Concepts Babesia spp. parasites are the causative agents of babesiosis in wild and domestic animals, as well as humans. Babesia spp. are transmitted by ticks to mammals and birds, and reproduce asexually within host red blood cells. Babesiosis has major health and economic impacts. There are over 100 species of Babesia parasites, with several known to cause disease in humans. Babesia spp. belong to at least two distinct branches, with one capable of transovarial transmission and the other only of transstadial transmission.

Evidence for vesicle-mediated antigen export by the human pathogen Babesia microti

“…Human babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease endemic in the United States and increasingly reported in other parts of the world, including Asia and Europe (Chen et al, 2015; Westblade et al, 2017; Ben Mamoun & Allred, 2018). Several species of Babesia have been shown to cause infection in humans with Babesia microti accounting for the large majority of clinical cases reported worldwide (Krause, 2019).…”

“…B. microti is a member of the phylum Apicomplexa, which encompasses other important human pathogens, including Plasmodium parasites, the causative agents of malaria (Cornillot et al, 2012, 2016; Garg et al, 2014). The parasite develops and multiplies within red blood cells of its mammalian host to cause the pathological symptoms associated with babesiosis (Westblade et al, 2017; Ben Mamoun & Allred, 2018). However, unlike malaria parasites, which maintain a parasitophorous vacuole membrane throughout their intraerythrocytic development, B. microti has a transient parasitophorous vacuole that forms immediately after invasion but rapidly disintegrates as the parasite develops within the host cell (Rudzinska et al, 1976).…”

Knockout of Babesia bovis rad51 ortholog and its complementation by expression from the BbACc3 artificial chromosome platform

“…In the U.S. infections have been observed with Babesia duncani and B . divergens -like organisms, as well as the unspeciated WA1 and MO1 isolates (reviewed in [1]). Many individuals may carry asymptomatic infections [2], including as a result of inadequate drug treatment of acute parasitemia [3, 4], posing a serious risk to the blood supply [5].…”

Evaluation of the in vitro inhibitory effects of prumycin on the growth of Babesia and Theileria parasites

“…Babesia infections worldwide have caused severe profitable losings in livestock production (Kuttler, 1988;Mamoun and Evaluation of in vitro inhibitory effects of prumycin on the growth of Babesia and Theileria parasites Allred 2018). Theileria equi causes piroplasmosis in equines and affects its world trade.…”