Probable Locally Acquired<i>Babesia divergens–</i>Like Infection in Woman, Michigan, USA

Herc, Erica; Pritt, Bobbi S.; Huizenga, Taylor; Douce, Richard W.; Hysell, Matthew; Newton, Duane W.; Sidge, Jennifer L.; Losman, Eve; Sherbeck, John; Kaul, Daniel

doi:10.3201/eid2408.180309

Cited by 20 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 15 publications

(18 reference statements)

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“…Namely, B. duncani (93,94) and a Babesia sp. (95) closely related to B. duncani were identified as causes of infection in Washington and California (WA-1), while B. divergens or B. divergens-like/MO-1 (96, 97) parasites have caused infections in Missouri, Kentucky, Washington, Arkansas, and Michigan (98,99).…”

Section: Epidemiology and Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging Tick-Borne Diseases

et al. 2020

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SUMMARY Increases in tick-borne disease prevalence and transmission are important public health issues. Efforts to control these emerging diseases are frustrated by the struggle to control tick populations and to detect and treat infections caused by the pathogens that they transmit. This review covers tick-borne infectious diseases of nonrickettsial bacterial, parasitic, and viral origins. While tick surveillance and tracking inform our understanding of the importance of the spread and ecology of ticks and help identify areas of risk for disease transmission, the vectors are not the focus of this document. Here, we emphasize the most significant pathogens that infect humans as well as the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that they cause. Although detection via molecular or immunological methods has improved, tick-borne diseases continue to remain underdiagnosed, making the scope of the problem difficult to assess. Our current understanding of the incidence of tick-borne diseases is discussed in this review. An awareness of the diseases that can be transmitted by ticks in specific locations is key to detection and selection of appropriate treatment. As tick-transmitted pathogens are discovered and emerge in new geographic regions, our ability to detect, describe, and understand the growing public health threat must also grow to meet the challenge.

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Section: Epidemiology and Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging Tick-Borne Diseases

et al. 2020

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“…In addition, Scott et al reported Bbsl in H. leporispalustris collected from songbirds [22]. Reports of human cases with high levels of parasitemia caused by B. divergens-like microorganisms include residents of Missouri, Kentucky, Washington, Arkansas, Massachusetts, and Michigan [90]. In the latter case, Herc et al reported an asplenic Michigan patient infected with a B. divergens-like/MO-1 piroplasm, and this 60-year-old lady experienced fatigue, nausea, and hemolytic febrile symptoms [90].…”

Section: Co-infected Ticks On Terrestrial Mammalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reports of human cases with high levels of parasitemia caused by B. divergens-like microorganisms include residents of Missouri, Kentucky, Washington, Arkansas, Massachusetts, and Michigan [90]. In the latter case, Herc et al reported an asplenic Michigan patient infected with a B. divergens-like/MO-1 piroplasm, and this 60-year-old lady experienced fatigue, nausea, and hemolytic febrile symptoms [90]. Not only have B. divergens-like infections been identified in the blood and spleen of eastern cottontail rabbits, they have also been detected in rabbit-associated ticks, I. dentatus, on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, USA [91].…”

Section: Co-infected Ticks On Terrestrial Mammalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection and Transstadial Passage of Babesia Species and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Ticks Collected from Avian and Mammalian Hosts in Canada

et al. 2019

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Lyme disease and human babesiosis are the most common tick-borne zoonoses in the Temperate Zone of North America. The number of infected patients has continued to rise globally, and these zoonoses pose a major healthcare threat. This tick-host-pathogen study was conducted to test for infectious microbes associated with Lyme disease and human babesiosis in Canada. Using the flagellin (flaB) gene, three members of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) complex were detected, namely a Borrelia lanei-like spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss), and a distinct strain that may represent a separate Bbsl genospecies. This novel Bbsl strain was detected in a mouse tick, Ixodes muris, collected from a House Wren, Troglodytes aedon, in Quebec during the southward fall migration. The presence of Bbsl in bird-feeding larvae of I. muris suggests reservoir competency in three passerines (i.e., Common Yellowthroat, House Wren, Magnolia Warbler). Based on the 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene, three Babesia species (i.e., Babesia divergens-like, Babesia microti, Babesia odocoilei) were detected in field-collected ticks. Not only was B. odocoilei found in songbird-derived ticks, this piroplasm was apparent in adult questing blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, in southern Canada. By allowing live, engorged ticks to molt, we confirm the transstadial passage of Bbsl in I. muris and B. odocoilei in I. scapularis. Bbss and Babesia microti were detected concurrently in a groundhog tick, Ixodes cookei, in Western Ontario. In Alberta, a winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus, which was collected from a moose, Alces alces, tested positive for Bbss. Notably, a B. divergens-like piroplasm was detected in a rabbit tick, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, collected from an eastern cottontail in southern Manitoba; this Babesia species is a first-time discovery in Canada. This rabbit tick was also co-infected with Borrelia lanei-like spirochetes, which constitutes a first in Canada. Overall, five ticks were concurrently infected with Babesia and Bbsl pathogens and, after the molt, could potentially co-infect humans. Notably, we provide the first authentic report of I. scapularis ticks co-infected with Bbsl and B. odocoilei in Canada. The full extent of infectious microorganisms transmitted to humans by ticks is not fully elucidated, and clinicians need to be aware of the complexity of these tick-transmitted enzootic agents on human health. Diagnosis and treatment must be administered by those with accredited medical training in tick-borne zoonosis.

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“…B. divergens infects ruminants in Europe but has never been reported in the USA. B. divergens-like/MO-1 in the USA is a distinct strain of B. divergens, which has a lower infection rate in cattle, and distinct morphology when grown in vitro (21,22,23).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Severe Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia divergens Concomitant Infection in Imported Captive Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

Romanos¹,

Maillard²

2020

Macedonian Veterinary Review

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Tick-borne diseases are highly prevalent in domestic and wild ruminants and they may be distributed in wide geographical ranges by animal transportation. The aim of the current study was to investigate the presence of European strains of Babesia spp. and/or Anaplasma spp. in oversea imported reindeer specimens. Imported specimens (n=7) were hospitalized with visible tick infestation (Ixodes ricinus) and signs of cachexia, anemia, and hemoglobinuria. Using blood smears, PCR, and BLAST comparisons, it was confirmed that the animals were infected with a French strain of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia divergens which is considered to be absent in the USA. We conclude that oversea importation of reindeers must be followed with a routine check for geographically-specific strains of pathogens from the place of origin. This monitoring process must be dynamic and according to recent reports of tick-borne pathogens.

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Probable Locally AcquiredBabesia divergens–Like Infection in Woman, Michigan, USA

Cited by 20 publications

References 15 publications

Emerging Tick-Borne Diseases

Emerging Tick-Borne Diseases

Detection and Transstadial Passage of Babesia Species and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Ticks Collected from Avian and Mammalian Hosts in Canada

Severe Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia divergens Concomitant Infection in Imported Captive Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

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