European tick bites may carry double threat, but tests rarely detect it
A Swedish study finds that nearly half of ticks carrying Babesia parasites also carry Lyme disease bacteria, yet diagnostic testing for Babesia remains uncommon across Europe. The coinfection could complicate treatment decisions and patient outcomes, suggesting healthcare systems may be missing a significant public health problem.
Originaltitel: Coinfection of <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Borrelia</i> in the Tick <i>Ixodes ricinus</i>-A Neglected Public Health Issue in Europe?
<p>Ixodes ricinus nymphs and adults removed from humans, and larvae and nymphs from birds, have been analysed for infection with Babesia species and Borrelia species previously in separately published studies. Here, we use the same data set to explore the coinfection pattern of Babesia and Borrelia species in the ticks. We also provide an overview of the ecology and potential public health importance in Sweden of I. ricinus infected both with zoonotic Babesia and Borrelia species. Among 1952 nymphs and adult ticks removed from humans, 3.1% were PCR-positive for Babesia spp. Of these Babesia-positive ticks, 43% were simultaneously Borrelia-positive. Among 1046 immatures of I. ricinus removed from birds, 2.5% were Babesia-positive, of which 38% were coinfected with Borrelia species. This study shows that in I. ricinus infesting humans or birds in Sweden, potentially zoonotic Babesia protozoa sometimes co-occur with human-pathogenic Borrelia spp. Diagnostic tests for Babesia spp. infection are rarely performed in Europe, and the medical significance of this pathogen in Europe could be underestimated.</p>