First report of two asymptomatic cases of human infection with <i>Babesia microti </i>(Franca, 1910) in Poland

Human infection by <i>Babesia microti</i> has been recognized as an emerging zoonosis with important public health implications worldwide. In Europe the reported cases of human babesiosis have been attributed mostly to <i>B. divergens</i> infection, with only sporadic cases of the disease caused by <i>B. microti</i> or <i>B. venatorum</i>. This study, based on molecular methods (PCR, R-T PCR, DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis), reveals for the first time in Poland, asymptomatic infection with. microti in immunocompetent healthy individuals working in forest ecosystems. Of the 58 professional foresters examined, two (3.4%) were identified as <i>B. microti</i>-positive by specific PCR. The results of this study also provide strong evidence that in eastern Poland, where tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are endemic, there is a potential risk of acquiring human babesiosis due to zoonotic <i>B. microti</i> parasites commonly found in rodents and <i>I. ricinus</i> ticks. The potential public health importance of this finding is discussed.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC

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   Molecular Characterization of a Non– Babesia divergens Organism Causing Zoonotic Babesiosis in Europe · 2003

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  The Global Emergence of Human Babesiosis · 2021

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