What is Babesia Fluorescence In Situ Hybridisation?
Babesia are intraerythrocytic protozoan parasites transmitted by Ixodes ticks, the same vector that transmits Borrelia burgdorferi. The two predominant species in North America are B. microti and, less commonly, B. duncani. Once inoculated, sporozoites invade red cells, replicate asexually, and lyse the host erythrocyte to release merozoites that infect fresh cells. Parasitaemia is typically low and intermittent, peaking during the acute febrile phase and then fluctuating or clearing over weeks to months in immunocompetent hosts, but may persist in asplenic or immunocompromised patients.