Babesiosis is a rare disease carried by ticks infected with the Babesia parasite. It most often affects cows, horses, sheep, dogs, and cats, but it can be transmitted to people through tick bites.
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Tickborne diseases
What Are Babesia?
Babesia (ba-BEE-ze-a) are protozoa, or one-celled organisms, that often live as parasites * infecting cows, horses, sheep, goats, dogs, cats, and other animals. Ticks pick up Babesia when they feed on infected animals. The protozoa then multiply in the tick, and when the tick bites a person or another animal, the protozoa travel from the tick into the new host, where they begin multiplying again.What Happens When People Get Babesiosis?
The Babesia parasite invades the body's red blood cells and can destroy them. If left untreated, babesiosis may destroy red blood cells faster than the body can replace them.Symptoms
Doctors believe that many cases of babesiosis do not cause any symptoms. But in some cases, symptoms may start one to four weeks after the tick bite occurs, and symptoms may last for several weeks or months. People with babesiosis may experience fever, chills, sweating, fatigue, and anemia. Its symptoms are similar to those of malaria.Diagnosis and treatment
Doctors diagnose babesiosis by examining blood under a microscope. If they detect the parasite, they will prescribe medications to fight the infection and to rid the body of the parasite. Babesiosis is usually curable, although repeated courses of treatment may be necessary.
*
parasites
are creatures that live in and feed on the bodies of other organisms.
The animal or plant harboring the parasite is called its host.
* spleen is an organ near the stomach that helps the body fight infections.
Most patients recover with few, if any, lasting effects. The most serious
and sometimes fatal cases are found in elderly people, in pregnant women,
in people who have had their spleens
*
removed, or in people with immune deficiencies.
* spleen is an organ near the stomach that helps the body fight infections.
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