Fatal human babesiosis caused by Babesia divergens in an asplenic host

Abstract

We report a fatal case of human babesiosis caused by bovine pathogen Babesia divergens in Russia. Falciparum malaria was falsely diagnosed due to the presence of small ring forms in the blood smear. Laboratory diagnosis can distinguish between babesiosis and malaria according to the examination of stained blood smears. Keywords: Protozoan parasites, Tick born disease, Human babesiosis, Babesia divergens, Diagnosis