Babesiosis

A rare, often severe, and sometimes fatal parasitic disease of man caused by an intraerythrocytic protozoan, Babesia microti, and perhaps other Babesia species. The disease is transmitted by ticks, occurs mostly in the north-eastern United States, especially the offshore islands of New York and Massachusetts. Cases have also been reported in Wisconsin, California, Georgia, and in some European countries. Babesiosis is a common infection in animals. Severe forms are most likely to occur in persons over age 40 and those without a spleen. Manifests with fever, chills, drenching sweats, myalgia, arthralgia, nausea and vomiting, and anaemia.