Quantitative PCR for detection of Babesia microti in Ixodes scapularis ticks and in human blood.

ABSTRACT: Babesia microti, the primary cause of human babesiosis in the United States, is transmitted by Ixodes scapularis ticks; transmission may also occur through blood transfusion and transplacentally. Most infected people experience a viral-like illness that resolves without complication, but those who are immunocompromised may develop a serious and prolonged illness that is sometimes fatal. The geographic expansion and increasing incidence of human babesiosis in the northeastern and midwestern United States highlight the need for high-throughput sensitive and specific assays to detect parasites in both ticks and humans with the goals of improving epidemiological surveillance, diagnosis of acute infections, and screening of the blood supply. Accordingly, we developed a B. microti-specific quant

SUBMITTER: Rollend L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3822370 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature