A fetus may develop babesiosis in a mother who is infected during pregnancy (vertical transmission).
Clinical presentation:
(1) fever
(2) irritability or lethargy
(3) pallor
(4) poor feeding
(5) hepatosplenomegaly
(6) neutropenia, anemia and/or thrombocytopenia
Clinical diagnosis:
(1) evidence of babesia in the child (usually parasites are seen in a blood smear)
(2) evidence of babesia infection in the mother (blood, antibody, PCR) and/or placenta (PCR)
(3) exclusion of other routes for babesiosis (tick, blood transfusion)
where:
• Serologic testing is of limited use in a neonate or infant less than 4 months old due to maternal transfer of IgG antibodies.
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Specialty: Infectious Diseases
