Babesia crassa–Like Human Infection Indicating Need for Adapted PCR Diagnosis of Babesiosis, France

Abstract

Human babesiosis in Europe is caused by multiple zoonotic species. We describe a case in a splenectomized patient, in which a routine Babesia divergens PCR result was negative. A universal Babesia spp. PCR yielded a positive result and enabled classification of the parasite into the less-described Babesia crassa–like complex.

Keywords

• Babesia
• Babesia crassa
• zoonotic disease
• immunocompromised patient
• PCR
• phylogenetic