By Kris Newby and Nev Zubcevik, Invisible International

In our new online course, “An Introduction to Human Babesiosis,” you’ll learn how to diagnose and treat infections caused by Babesia, a malaria-like protozoan parasite that can be transmitted through tick bites, blood transfusions, and organ transplants, or congenitally from mother to fetus

The course is taught by Elizabeth Maloney, MD, the Education Co-director at Invisible. She is a Minnesota family physician and the founder/president of Partnership for Tick-borne Diseases Education, a nonprofit providing evidence-based education on tick-borne diseases.

The parasite Babesia–which causes the disease babesiosis–lives in red blood cells. It was originally found only in cattle. It crossed over to humans in Croatia in 1956 and in Colorado and Massachusetts in the late 1960s. [1] Recent studies show that this parasite is more prevalent than previously thought, with Babesia microti being found in 1-in-10 of the ticks in southern New England and up to 15% of ticks in Suffolk County (Long Island), New York.

Co-infected patients are sicker

When ticks transmit both Lyme disease and Babesia simultaneously, patients are sicker and the resulting disease is harder to treat.

Co-infected patients are more likely to have fatigue, headaches, sweats, chills, anorexia, emotional lability, nausea, conjunctivitis, and splenomegaly more frequently than those with Lyme disease alone. The disease can be fatal for patients with damaged or missing spleens.

The course also discusses the global distribution of Babesia and a new species of Babesia, B. odocoilei, which may be causing unrecognized disease.

“Babesiosis is an emerging infectious disease yet many clinicians have had no or very little training about it. This can lead to missed diagnoses and increased morbidity for patients,” said Dr. Maloney.

“Unrecognized cases of babesiosis in blood donors have produced transfusion-transmitted cases which carry a significant mortality risk. Informing clinicians about the infection will ultimately improve patient care. The primary goal of this CME offering is for clinicians to include  babesiosis in their differential diagnosis, when clinically appropriate.”

Watch the course here.

Invisible International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation dedicated to reducing suffering from invisible illnesses. It offers no-cost physician education courses accredited through the American Academy of Family Physicians.