First case of human babesiosis in Korea: detection and characterization of a novel type of Babesia sp. (KO1) similar to ovine babesia.
We report on the first case of human babesiosis in Korea. The intraerythrocytic parasite (KO1) in the patient's blood mainly appeared as paired pyriforms and ring forms; but Maltese cross forms were not seen, and the parasite showed morphological features consistent with those of the genus Babesia sensu stricto. The sequence of the 18S rRNA gene of KO1 was closely related to that of Babesia spp. isolated from sheep in China (similarity, 98%). The present study provides the first evidence of the presence of a hitherto unidentified, new type of Babesia parasite capable of infecting humans.
Kim
Jung-Yeon
JY
Division of Malaria and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Health, Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul 122-701, Korea.
Cho
Shin-Hyeong
SH
Joo
Hyun-Na
HN
Tsuji
Masayoshi
M
Cho
Sung-Ran
SR
Park
Il-Joong
IJ
Chung
Gyung-Tae
GT
Ju
Jung-Won
JW
Cheun
Hyeng-Il
HI
Lee
Hyeong-Woo
HW
Lee
Young-Hee
YH
Kim
Tong-Soo
TS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012756:Sheep / Q000469:parasitology; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*
D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S