PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases (Aug 2019)

The Babesia observational antibody (BAOBAB) study: A cross-sectional evaluation of Babesia in two communities in Kilosa district, Tanzania.

  • Evan M Bloch,
  • Zakayo Mrango,
  • Mabula Kasubi,
  • Jerusha Weaver,
  • Aleksandra Mihailovic,
  • Beatriz Munoz,
  • Anna Weimer,
  • Andrew Levin,
  • Laura Tonnetti,
  • Jeffrey M Linnen,
  • Vanessa Brès,
  • Douglas E Norris,
  • Giovanna Carpi,
  • Sheila K West

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007632
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 8
p. e0007632

Abstract

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BackgroundBabesia, a tick-borne genus of intraerythrocytic parasites, is understudied in humans outside of established high-endemic areas. There is a paucity of data on Babesia in Africa, despite evidence that it is regionally present. A pilot study suggested that Babesia was present in a rural district of Tanzania.Methodology/principal findingsA cross-sectional study was conducted July-August 2017: residents in a case hamlet that had clustering of subjects with high signal-to-cut off (S/CO) ratios for antibodies against B. microti in the pilot study, and a control hamlet that had lacked significant signal, were evaluated for B. microti. Subjects aged ≥15yrs (n = 299) underwent clinical evaluation and household inspections; 10ml whole blood was drawn for Babesia transcription mediated amplification (TMA), B. microti indirect fluorescent antibody testing (IFA) and rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) for Plasmodium spp. Subjects aged Conclusions/significanceThe findings offer further support for Babesia in rural Tanzania. However, low prevalence of seroreactivity questions its clinical significance.