Babesiosis in Immunocompetent Patients, Europe

Abstract

We report 2 cases of babesiosis in immunocompetent patients in France. A severe influenza-like disease developed in both patients 2 weeks after they had been bitten by ticks. Diagnosis was obtained from blood smears, and Babesia divergens was identified by PCR in 1 case. Babesiosis in Europe occurs in healthy patients, not only in splenectomized patients.

Keywords

• Babesia
• Anaplasma
• babesiosis
• tick-borne infection
• parasite
• zoonoses