title: First report of two asymptomatic cases of human infection with Babesia microti (Franca, 1910) in Poland.
abstract: Human infection by Babesia microti has been recognized as an emerging zoonosis with important public health implications worldwide. In Europe the reported cases of human babesiosis have been attributed mostly to B. divergens infection, with only sporadic cases of the disease caused by B. microti or B. venatorum. This study, based on molecular methods (PCR, R-T PCR, DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis), reveals for the first time in Poland, asymptomatic infection with . microti in immunocompetent healthy individuals working in forest ecosystems. Of the 58 professional foresters examined, two (3.4%) were identified as B. microti-positive by specific PCR. The results of this study also provide strong evidence that in eastern Poland, where tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are endemic, there is a potential risk of acquiring human babesiosis due to zoonotic B. microti parasites commonly found in rodents and I. ricinus ticks. The potential public health importance of this finding is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Welc-Falęciak
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunopathology of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pawełczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunopathology of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radkowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University in Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Sławomir A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pancewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University in Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zajkowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Siński
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058345:Asymptomatic Infections; D041001:Babesia microti / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D016468:Forestry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S