Babesiosis (pronounced “buh-BEE-zee-oh-sis”) is an illness you get from many species (types) of the parasite Babesia. You can get it through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks or from an organ transplant. Babesia is a protozoan parasite found to infect vertebrate animals, mostly livestock mammals and birds, but also occasionally humans.

Understanding the Context

Common names of the disease that B. microti causes are Texas cattle fever, redwater fever, tick fever, and Nantucket fever. [7] Babesiosis is a disease caused by microscopic parasites that infect red blood cells. A parasite is an organism (living thing) that lives on or inside another organism.

Key Insights

Although there are many different species (types) of Babesia parasite found in animals, only a few infect people. Babesiosis is caused by infection with a malaria-like parasite of the genus Babesia. The Babesia parasite can also be called Nuttalia. The parasite grows and reproduces inside the red blood... Babesia is a microscopic parasite that infects your red blood cells.

Final Thoughts

It’s part of a group of organisms known as protozoa, and the infection it causes is called babesiosis. Babesia primarily infects animals and humans are only opportunistic hosts. The parasite is also referred to as piroplasms because of its 'pear-shape' that is seen within the infected erythrocytes. Babesiosis is an infection with Babesia species of protozoa. Infections can be asymptomatic or cause a malaria-like illness with fever and hemolytic anemia. Disease is most severe in asplenic patients, older adults, and patients with advanced HIV infection.

Babesia is a malaria-like parasite, also called a “piroplasm,” that infects red blood cells. Scientists believe Babesia microti is the most common piroplasm infecting humans, but they have identified over twenty piroplasms carried by ticks.