Analysis index

2 ml EDTA-blood for blood smears and thick drop, alternatively also 150 µl capillary blood (fresh sample required), 2 ml citrate blood

Pathogen detection: 2 ml heparin blood

Babesia microti: 1 ml serum (antibody detection), external service

IgG: < 1:16 titer

Suspicion of babesiosis, flu-like symptoms after relevant exposure

Babesia microti, babesia bigemina, babesia canis and babesia divergens are human pathogenic species of the babesia genus. Babesiosis is a protozoa disease in animals, occasionally communicated to humans by the hard tick. Babesia attack erythrocytes and morphologically are similar to the ring form of plasmodia. Babesia have been detected along the Northeastern coast of the US as well as in multiple European countries (France, Ireland, GUS). Especially endangered are patients after splenectomy and immune suppressed patients. The clinical presentation is varied: Fever, ague/shivering, muscle pains, tiredness etc. Serological demonstration is not suitable for acute diagnostics! Antibodies are only detected a week after onset of illness.

For information about therapy, please refer to: www.rki.de

MVZ Diamedis Diagnostische Medizin Sennestadt