Babesiosis in Wisconsin: A Potentially Fatal Disease

Barbara L. Herwaldt Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Internal Medicine, Gunderson Clinic, Ltd., The Polyclinic, Immunology Section, La Crosse Lutheran Hospital, Section of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia

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Fern E. Springs Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Internal Medicine, Gunderson Clinic, Ltd., The Polyclinic, Immunology Section, La Crosse Lutheran Hospital, Section of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia

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Paul P. Roberts Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Internal Medicine, Gunderson Clinic, Ltd., The Polyclinic, Immunology Section, La Crosse Lutheran Hospital, Section of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia

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Mark L. Eberhard Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Internal Medicine, Gunderson Clinic, Ltd., The Polyclinic, Immunology Section, La Crosse Lutheran Hospital, Section of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia

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Kay Case Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Internal Medicine, Gunderson Clinic, Ltd., The Polyclinic, Immunology Section, La Crosse Lutheran Hospital, Section of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia

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David H. Persing Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Internal Medicine, Gunderson Clinic, Ltd., The Polyclinic, Immunology Section, La Crosse Lutheran Hospital, Section of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia

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William A. Agger Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Internal Medicine, Gunderson Clinic, Ltd., The Polyclinic, Immunology Section, La Crosse Lutheran Hospital, Section of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1995.53.146
Volume/Issue:
Volume 53: Issue 2
Page(s):
146–151
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Babesiosis is emerging as an important tick-borne zoonosis in the United States. Most reported cases of this parasitic disease have been acquired in the Northeast. To date, only two clinical cases of Babesia microti infection acquired in the upper Midwest have been described. We report eight more cases. Most if not all of the 10 total cases probably were acquired in northwestern Wisconsin. Three cases (30% of 10) we now report were fatal and occurred in elderly patients (65–75 years old) who died after complicated hospital courses. One patient probably had had a latent Babesia infection that activated because of immunosuppression attributable to high-dose corticosteroid therapy and to splenic infarctions caused by cholesterol emboli. All three fatal cases were diagnosed incidentally and highlight the importance of considering the diagnosis of babesiosis in febrile patients who have been in babesiosis-endemic areas; examining their blood smears carefully; and treating promptly with clindamycin and quinine, and, if indicated, exchange transfusion. Medical personnel should be knowledgeable about this zoonosis, which is not limited to the northeastern United States, and is potentially serious, sometimes fatal.

Author Notes

Copyright:
Copyright © 1995 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1995
Published Online:
Aug 1995
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
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