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Case Reports
. 2014 Nov-Dec;25(6):e87-9.
doi: 10.1155/2014/209521.

The first case of locally acquired tick-borne Babesia microti infection in Canada

Jared Mp Bullard  1 , Arshad N Ahsanuddin  2 , Anamarija M Perry  2 , L Robbin Lindsay  3 , Mahmood Iranpour  4 , Antonia Dibernardo  4 , Paul G Van Caeseele  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

The first case of locally acquired tick-borne Babesia microti infection in Canada

Jared Mp Bullard et al. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2014 Nov-Dec.

Abstract
in English, French

A child with a complicated medical history that included asplenia acquired an infection with Babesia microti in the summer of 2013 and had not travelled outside of Manitoba. Although the clinical findings were subtle, astute laboratory work helped to reach a preliminary identification of Babesia species, while reference laboratory testing confirmed the diagnosis. Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are known to transmit Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in the province; however, the present case represents the first known instance of tick-borne B microti, both in Manitoba and in Canada. The expanding territory of the blacklegged tick increases the relevance of this emerging infection. Clinicians, laboratory medical practitioners and public health officials should be aware of B microti as a potential locally acquired infection in Canada.

Un enfant ayant des antécédents médicaux complexes, qui incluaient une asplénie, a contracté une infection à Babesia microti pendant l’été 2013, sans avoir quitté le Manitoba. Même si les résultats cliniques étaient discrets, un travail de laboratoire astucieux a contribué à l’identification préliminaire d’une espèce de Babesia. Le test du laboratoire de référence a confirmé le diagnostic. On sait que les tiques occidentales à pattes noires (Ixodes scapularis) transmettent le Borrelia burgdorferi et l’Anaplasma phagocytophilum dans la province. Le présent cas est toutefois la première occurrence connue de B microti à tique, tant au Manitoba qu’au Canada. L’expansion du territoire de la tique occidentale à pattes noires renforce la pertinence de cette infection émergente. Les cliniciens, les praticiens de laboratoires médicaux et les directeurs de la santé publique devraient savoir que le B microti peut être transmis localement au Canada.

Keywords: Babesia microti; Babesiosis; Blacklegged ticks; Canada; Emerging infection; Local acquisition.

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Figures

Figure 1)
Figure 1)
Babesia species in a thin blood smear stained with Giemsa (oil, original magnification ×1000). Vacuolated intraerythrocytic form (A), multiple forms within erythrocyte (B) and tetrads (C) are indicated
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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