Babesiosis laboratory findings

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Babesiosis is easy to diagnose but only if it is suspected. It will not show up on any routine tests. It must be suspected when a persons with exposure in an endemic area develops persistent fevers and hemolytic anemia.

Babesiosis can be diagnosed by direct examination of the blood, with serology, or with PCR-based tests. Serologic testing for antibodies provides supporting evidence for a potential infection. Other laboratory findings include decreased numbers of red blood cells and platelets on complete blood count.

In symptomatic people, babesiosis usually is diagnosed by examining blood specimens under a microscope and seeing Babesia parasites inside red blood cells. ^[1]

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  Babesia microti in blood smear. Giemsa stain. Parasite. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
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  Babesia microti in blood smear. Giemsa stain. Parasite. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
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  Babesia microti in blood smear. Giemsa stain. Parasite. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
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  Babesia microti in blood smear. Giemsa stain. Parasite. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
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  Babesia microti in blood smear. Giemsa stain. Parasite. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
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  Babesia microti in blood smear. Giemsa stain. Parasite. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
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  Babesia microti in blood smear. Giemsa stain. Parasite. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
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  Babesia microti in blood smear. Giemsa stain. Parasite. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
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  This blood smear micrograph reveals a Babesia sp. tetrad formation. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
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  This blood smear micrograph revealed the presence of Babesia sp. ring formations inside the host erythrocytes. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
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  This photomicrograph revealed the presence of an “older ring-form” of a Babesia sp. protozoan parasite in a blood smear. This older ring-form was located within an erythrocyte, and was displaying two chromatin masses. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
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  Blood smear showing large Babesia rings in erythrocytes. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
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  At a magnification of 1000X, this blood smear photomicrograph revealed the presence of a number of intra-erythrocytic forms of Babesia sp. hemoprotozoan parasites. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
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  Blood smear showing larger trophic stage of Babesia microti in erythrocyte. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
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  Note the developmental “tetrad” configuration of these Babesia sp. trophozoites, which resemble P. falciparum. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]

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