1. BABESIA MICROTI Michael Lehrke

2. Babesia microti Classification PhylumApicomplexa ClassAconoidasida OrderPiroplasmida FamilyBabesiidae GenusBabesia Speciesmicroti

3. Babesia microti

4. Distribution Found worldwide In the US it is particularly prevalent in the northeastern and Midwestern states Yes, Minnesota and Wisconsin!! Some notable areas are Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket Island, Cape Cod, and Long Island

5. Disease Causes Babesiosis Symptoms: High fever Muscle aches Chills Fatigue Headache Loss of appetite Anemia

6. Hosts Vector: Deer ticks [Ixodes scapularis, black-legged ticks] Definitive Host: Ticks Intermediate Host: White-footed mouse, deer, cattle, horses, other mammals, (humans) Reservoir Host: Peromyscus leucopus Humans are usually a dead-end host

7. Life cycle

8. Diagnosis Suspicion Persistent fevers and hemolytic anemia occurring Blood smear, visualizing “Maltese cross formations” Not in Malaria Multiple smears (infects about 1% of red blood cells) Serological testing (IgG and IgM) PCR Blood counts

9. Treatment Most people do not require treatment Treated 7-10 days using combination antimicrobial drugs Atovaquone and Azithromycin Clindamycin and Quinine

10. Prevention Avoid tick exposure Check for ticks Apply diethyltoluamide (DEET) Tick elimination Acaricide-control ticks of domestic animals