Emergence of human babesiosis along the border of China with Myanmar: detection by PCR and confirmation by sequencing

Abstract

Babesiosis is a tick-borne, zoonotic disease caused by Babesia spp. Two cases of babesiosis were detected by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in Yunnan province, China, and further confirmed by molecular assay. The blood smears showed intraerythrocytic ring form and tetrads typical of small B. microti. In both cases, the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) ruled out the possibility of co-infections with malaria. Neither case was initially diagnosed because of the low Babesia parasitemia. These two cases of babesiosis in areas along the Myanmar-China border pose the question of the emergence of this under recognized infection in countries or areas where malaria is endemic.