Human Babesiosis
Is caused by a tick borne protozoan infection.

Rodents, wild animals and cattle are its natural reservoir, with humans rarely infected.
Symptoms start 1-4 weeks after bit and may be mild to severe.

In severe cases - high fever, chills, nausea and vomiting, may even mimic malaria with future complications such as lung edema, anemia, kidney failure and bleeding.
There parasites may be seen on a blood smear (as with malaria) and treatment may be supportive or if severe symptoms, several drugs are used.
This disease often co-exists with Lyme disease in the same ticks, although it is rare.

Symptoms start 1-4 weeks after bit and may be mild to severe. In severe cases - high fever, chills, nausea and vomiting, may even mimic malaria with future complications such as lung edema, anemia, kidney failure and bleeding.
There parasites may be seen on a blood smear (as with malaria) and treatment may be supportive or if severe symptoms, several drugs are used.
This disease often co-exists with Lyme disease in the same ticks, although it is rare.

Babesiosis links

American Journal of Tropical Dermatology http://www.ajtmh.org/cgi/content/full/68/4/431

International Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology

http://www.icp.ucl.ac.be/~opperd/parasites/human_babesiosis.html

American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.aafp.org/afp/20010515/1969.html

Clinical Microbiology Review http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/content/full/13/3/451