Babesia
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Babesia
Parasitology
Protozoa
Worms
Diphyllobothrium latum
Echinococcus granulosus (Hydatid disease)
Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus
Angiostrongylus (Eosinophilic meningitis)
Anisakis
Ascaris lumbricoides
Enterobius vermicularis (Pinworm)
Guinea worm (Dracunculiasis)
Loa loa (Eye worm)
Onchocerca volvulus (River blindness)
Strongyloides stercoralis
Toxocara canis (Visceral larva migrans)
Trichinella spiralis
Trichuris trichiura (Whipworm)
Wuchereria bancrofti (Lymphatic filariasis)
Clonorchis sinensis
Paragonimus westermani
Schistosomes
Assessments
Flashcards
0 / 7 complete
USMLE® Step 1 questions
0 / 1 complete
CME Credits
0 / 0.5 complete
High Yield Notes
6 pages
Flashcards
Babesia
0 of 7 complete
Questions
USMLE® Step 1 style questions USMLE
0 of 1 complete
A 56-year-old man presents to the hospital with two weeks of fever, fatigue, headache, and myalgia. The patient spent the last three months hiking in Africa, North America, and South America. Bloodwork reveals elevated hepatic transaminases as well as severe anemia. A thick and thin smear of peripheral blood is prepared with Giemsa stain. Examination of the smears under light microscopy shows cross-shaped inclusions within several erythrocytes. Which of the following organisms is most likely responsible for this patient’s findings?
External References
First Aid
2024
2023
2022
2021
Babesia spp. p. 144, 154
anemia p. 415
Summary
Babesia is a parasitic protozoan that's known to cause babesiosis in humans. Babesia is spread by the bite of an infected Ixodes tick, the same tick that also transmits Borrelia burgdorferi. Babesiosis causes a form of parasitic, hemolytic disease. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, body aches, nausea, and vomiting. In severe cases, babesiosis can lead to serious health complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, heart failure, splenic rupture, and death.