• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.609-613
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• 2018

Babesiosis, caused by Babesia microti and B. divergens, is transmitted by Ixodid ticks. Symptoms of babesiosis vary from a mild flu-like illness to acute, severe, and sometimes fatal and fulminant disease. In Korea, 7 imported babesiosis cases and 1 endemic case have been reported. We report 2 cases of severe babesiosis initially mistaken as malaria. The first patient was complicated by shock and splenic infarction, the other co-infected with Lyme disease. As the population traveling abroad increases every year, physicians should be aware of babesiosis which mimics malaria, co-infection with other diseases, and its complications.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.72-77
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• 2023

Human babesiosis is a tick-borne disease induced by the genus Babesia and has been significantly reported in the Republic of Korea. This report shows the cases of 2 patients with human babesiosis who traveled to the USA in 2019. The 2 patients experienced fever and had travel histories to babesiosis-endemic regions. The diagnoses of both cases were verified by the identification of Babesia-infected red blood cells on blood smears. One patient was found to be infected with Babesia microti using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for 18S rRNA, which discovered the phylogenetic link to the B. microti strain endemic in the USA. The 2 patients recovered from fever with subsequent hemoparasite clearance. Babesiosis could be diagnosed in anyone with histories of travel to babesiosis-endemic countries and tick bites. Furthermore, Babesia-specific PCR is required for determining geno-and phenotypic characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.23-26
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• 1978

A survey on the prevalence of babesiosis and theileriasis in Korean cattel was conducted and the results obtained were as follows: 1. A total of 401 examined cattle, 164 heads (40.9%) were infected either with babesiosis or theileriasis and the incidence of the diseases was ranged from 22.5% in April to 72.7% in August. 2. Ninty-four heads (22.9%) of cattle examined were infected with babesiosis and the incidence was ranged from 9.1% in August to 33.3% in September. 3. Seventy heads (17.5%) of cattle examined were infected with theileriasis and the incidence was ranged from 12.5% in May to 28.0% in March. 4. Seventy five heads (18.7%) were free of the diseases.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.79-81
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• 1977

In this study, the serological survey on bovine babesiosis was conducted using indirect fluorescent antibody technique. A total of 472 serum samples were taken and tested with the following results. 1. 63.3% or 299 out of 472 serum samples were positive against bovine babesiosis. 2. The positive rate in Seoul, Jeon-buk and Jeju areas were 63.8, 30.6 and 91.4 per cent, respectively. 3. In spring, the rate of positive reaction was 37.5 to 54.0 per cent, in summer it was 69.1 to 81.8 per cent and in autumn 65.3 to 68.5 per cent.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2020

Between May and November 2018, babesiosis was examined in 162 bloods samples obtained to an animal hospital in Jeju island for anemia and medical examination. Sixty-two of 162 (38.3%) were positive by PCR. The ultra fast real-time PCR test with blood directly analyzed without DNA extraction showed the same results. Accurate diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of babesiosis should be combined with clinical symptoms, blood tests, the babesia antibody test, and the PCR antigen test. Ultra fast real-time PCR, with these tests, is expected to be a point-of-care testing (POCT) for easy, fast and accurate diagnosis of babesiosis in the veterinary clinic.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.101-104
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• 1983

Authors encountered a case of elk babesiosis in Daegu, Korea. The main symptoms observed before the death of the patient were elevated rectal temperature, severe degree of hemoglobinuria, icterus and recumbency. Hematologically, the erythrocyte count was 1.93 million per cu.mm 11% of which were infected with Babesia. Most(88%) of the protozoa were spherical or vacuolated ring form in shape, resembling B. bovis. However, the sizes (0.98-2.85) were slightly smaller than the latter. About 7% of the protozoa were vacuolated oval, the size of which varied from $2.06{\sim}2.95{\times}1.08{\sim}1.97$ ($2.53{\times}1.51$ in average). The remaining 5% were irregular in shape. Pear-shaped were scarcely observed. A three-gears-old Korean native cattle was inoculated subcutaneously with the elk's blood. However, no evidence of susceptibility was observed until 30 days postinoculation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.377-380
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• 2009

Dogs with canine babesiosis may present with wide variation in the severity of clinical signs, ranging from a hyperacute, shock-associated, hemolytic crisis to an inapparent, subclinical infection. Dogs typically present with the acute form of babesiosis, which is characterized by general findings such as pyrexia, weakness, mucous membrane pallor, depression, hemorrhagic anemia. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of babesia spp. infection in dogs of Seogwipo-si. A survey of canine babesia spp. infections among 173 dogs in Seogwipo-si was performed from July 2008 to August 2008. Blood samples were collected from dogs raised outdoors through cephalic or jugular vein and Babesia spp. was diagnosed by examination of blood smear stained with Giemsa stain. Of 173 dogs, 9 dogs (5.2%) were infected with the babesia spp. This result was a little lower than the prevalence of Babesia spp. in dogs of other areas.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 2006

A 1-year and 6-month-old, intact male, Shih-tzu dog was referred to the Konkuk University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, due to ascite, melena, severe anemia, and polyuria/polydipsia. Complete blood count showed moderate leukocytosis, lymphocytosis, monocytosis, and microcytic hypochromic nonregenerative anemia. On serum biochemistry profiles, hypoalbuminemia and hypoproteinemia were observed, and proteinuria was detected on urinalysis. Pleural effusion and mild ascites were noted in radiological findings, and bilateral nephromegaly was noted on ultrasonography. Babesia gibsoni was detected by PCR. Babesiosis and glomerular disease was treated at a time with prednisolone and buparvaquone. This therapeutic regime was very efficacious and clinical sings were rapidly improved. Proteinuria and severe anemia were disappeared following therapy.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.349-358
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• 2000

Effects of repeated administration of diminazene aceturate (Hoechst Veterin r GmbH. Ger- many) that has been introduced as effective compound against Babesiosis and trppanosomiasis were investigated in dogs experimentally infacted with Babesia gibsoni. Adull mongrel dogs of both sexes were inoculated will nonpreserved infected blood and then maintained chronic anemia. A single dose of diminazene aceturate of 7mg/kg b.w. was administrated intramnuscularIy on day 7.1 arid ,7. Clin- ical and hcmatological findings following inoculation and medication were observed and 7enlm bio chemical analysis also was monitored. Parasitemia was detected between 3 and 6 days after inoculation. The rate of parasitized erythrocytes,1 in peripheral blood reached the peak on the 13th day and was maintained the percentage of 0.1 to 1.0 until the medication of diminazene aceturate. RBC was significantly (p<0.01) decreased on the 3rd day and then kept on decreasing. The lowest value was observed on the 16th day. WBC remained generally within normal ranges. PCV revea1ed the sig-nificant (p<0.01) decrease within the range of 24-27% and platelet was significantly (p<0.05) decreased during the period. Senum chemical values (ALT, AST. total bilirubin. LDH BUN, area- tinine, total protein. albumin and glucose) were within normal ranges during the experimental period. Serum CPK values were significantly (p<0.01) increased on the 3rd day. There was no clinically, sig-nificant difference in a single dose of diminazene aceturate of 7 mg/kg b.w. But the administration of diminazene aceturate of 14 mg/kg b.w. revealed vomiting and anorexia and one dog died in 30 hours after administration. The administration of 14mg/kg b.w. resulted in vomiting, salivation, actor- exia, tremor of head and involuntary movement and one dog died in 27 hours after administration. WBC, RBC, PCV and Platelet values were no significant difference and hematological findings revealed persistent anemia and thrombocytopenia during chronic anemia after inoculation. AST activity its was significantly (p<0.01) increased 11\\`from 3 days after medication and AST activity was on the same trend. Serum CPK activity revealed significant (p<0.01) increase within 6 hors)\\`s after every administration and decreased in 48 howl·s after administration.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.667-672
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• 2014

While imported falciparum malaria has been increasingly reported in recent years in Korea, clinicians have difficulties in making a clinical diagnosis as well as in having accessibility to effective anti-malarial agents. Here we describe an unusual case of imported falciparum malaria with severe hemolytic anemia lasting over 2 weeks, clinically mimicking a coinfection with babesiosis. A 48-year old Korean man was diagnosed with severe falciparum malaria in France after traveling to the Republic of Benin, West Africa. He received a 1-day course of intravenous artesunate and a 7-day course of Malarone (atovaquone/proguanil) with supportive hemodialysis. Coming back to Korea 5 days after discharge, he was readmitted due to recurrent fever, and further treated with Malarone for 3 days. Both the peripheral blood smears and PCR test were positive for Plasmodium falciparum. However, he had prolonged severe hemolytic anemia (Hb 5.6 g/dl). Therefore, 10 days after the hospitalization, Babesia was considered to be potentially coinfected. A 7-day course of Malarone and azithromycin was empirically started. He became afebrile within 3 days of this babesiosis treatment, and hemolytic anemia profiles began to improve at the completion of the treatment. He has remained stable since his discharge. Unexpectedly, the PCR assays failed to detect DNA of Babesia spp. from blood. In addition, during the retrospective review of the case, the artesunate-induced delayed hemolytic anemia was considered as an alternative cause of the unexplained hemolytic anemia.