Shared features in the pathobiology of babesiosis and malaria.
The pathobiology of malaria has been extensively studied in humans but many questions remain, especially regarding fulminant disease associated with Plasmodium falciparum infection. Babesiosis, recognized since biblical times as an important disease of livestock and more recently as an emerging health problem in humans, is caused by related intraerythrocytic protozoa with a similar pathogenesis and clinical course. Recent studies of cytokine activation and erythrocyte cytoadherence in babesiosis and malaria have exploited these similarities to provide new insights into malaria pathobiology. Continued investigation of similarities and differences in the pathogenesis of babesiosis and malaria should lead to additional fundamental insights for both conditions.
Krause
Peter J
PJ
University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030, USA. Pkrause@ccmckids.org
Daily
Johanna
J
Telford
Sam R
SR
Vannier
Edouard
E
Lantos
Paul
P
Spielman
Andrew
A
D000818:Animals; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology; D008174:Lung Diseases, Parasitic / Q000209:etiology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D016207:Cytokines