Babesia divergens causes Bovine Babesiosis (red water fever) that is significantly more severe than Babesia microti. It is a blood-borne piroplasm that is transmitted by ticks, specifically the tick Ixodes ricinus. Unlike the vector of Babesia microti which is transmitted by the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5043583086109521Disease / Pathogenesis
Babesia divergens is the cause of Bovine Babesisosis or red water fever. It is generally a much more aggressive form of babesiosis, especially in asplenic individuals or those that are immunocompromised. Immunocompetent patients will exhibit symptoms that may be serious influenza-like and may require hospitalization/treatment.
Early upon exposure (1-9 weeks) from a tick bite the patient will develop flu-like symptoms that include fevers and chills. Progression of the disease will include myalgia, malaise, fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath, and reduced appetite. In immunocompetent patients the resolution of the symptoms will begin to subside after a few weeks to several months with complete cure unless there is concomitant infections with other tick borne diseases such as Anaplasmosis or Lyme disease. Therefore testing for these other infections is prudent. A small minority of patients have no resolution and carry the organism in an asymptomatic state that can last for months to years. These patients are of great concern as they are potential transmitters of the parasite through blood transfusions, and organ transplants.
Immunosuppressed patients are at great risk for life threatening conditions such as hypotension, severe hemolytic anemia, liver complications, and kidney failure. Therefore hospitalization and treatment is very important to increase the chance of survival in these patients. In these patients atovaquone plus azithromycin may be used as a treatment and even exchange transfusion may need to be used in very severe cases where blood cell loss is significantly life threatening to the patient.
Location in the Host
Babesia divergens is a parasite of the red blood cells. The parasite causes, along with severe hemolytic anemia, multi-organ disfunction that can be deadly in immunocompromised patients.
Geographic Distribution
Babesia divergens is most common in Europe though it is also found in cottontail rabbits on Nantucket Island Massachusetts in the United States. Therefore Babesia divergens infections should be suspected in persons with a history of travel to either Europe or Nantucket Island.
Life Cycle
Morphology & Diagnosis
Babesia divergens
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