Dataset Information

The Babesia observational antibody (BAOBAB) study: A cross-sectional evaluation of Babesia in two communities in Kilosa district, Tanzania.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Babesia, a tick-borne genus of intraerythrocytic parasites, is understudied in humans outside of established high-endemic areas. There is a paucity of data on Babesia in Africa, despite evidence that it is regionally present. A pilot study suggested that Babesia was present in a rural district of Tanzania.

Methodology/principal findings

A cross-sectional study was conducted July-August 2017: residents in a case hamlet that had clustering of subjects with high signal-to-cut off (S/CO) ratios for antibodies against B. microti in the pilot study, and a control hamlet that had lacked significant signal, were evaluated for B. microti. Subjects aged ?15yrs (n = 299) underwent clinical evaluation and household inspections; 10ml whole blood was drawn for Babesia transcription mediated amplification (TMA), B. microti indirect fluorescent antibody testing (IFA) and rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) for Plasmodium spp. Subjects aged <15yrs (n = 266) underwent a RDT for Plasmodium and assessment by ELISA for B. microti antibodies. A total of 570 subjects participated (mean age 22 [<1 to 90yrs]) of whom 50.7% were female and 145 (25.5%) subjects were Plasmodium RDT positive (+). In those <15yrs, the median ELISA S/CO was 1.11 (IQR 0.80-1.48); the median S/CO in the case (n = 120) and control (n = 146) hamlets was 1.19 (IQR 0.81-1.48) and 1.06 (IQR 0.80-1.50) respectively (p = 0.4). Children ?5yrs old were more likely to have a higher S/CO ratio than those <5yrs old (p<0.001). One hundred (38%) subjects <15yrs were Plasmodium RDT+. The median S/CO ratio (children <15yrs) did not differ by RDT status (p = 0.15). In subjects ?15yrs, no molecular test was positive for Babesia, but four subjects (1.4%) were IFA reactive (two each at titers of 128 and 256).

Conclusions/significance

The findings offer further support for Babesia in rural Tanzania. However, low prevalence of seroreactivity questions its clinical significance.

SUBMITTER: Bloch EM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6693791 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

The Babesia observational antibody (BAOBAB) study: A cross-sectional evaluation of Babesia in two communities in Kilosa district, Tanzania.

Bloch Evan M EM Mrango Zakayo Z Kasubi Mabula M Weaver Jerusha J Mihailovic Aleksandra A Munoz Beatriz B Weimer Anna A Levin Andrew A Tonnetti Laura L Linnen Jeffrey M JM Brès Vanessa V Norris Douglas E DE Carpi Giovanna G West Sheila K SK

PLoS neglected tropical diseases 20190814 8

<h4>Background</h4>Babesia, a tick-borne genus of intraerythrocytic parasites, is understudied in humans outside of established high-endemic areas. There is a paucity of data on Babesia in Africa, despite evidence that it is regionally present. A pilot study suggested that Babesia was present in a rural district of Tanzania.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>A cross-sectional study was conducted July-August 2017: residents in a case hamlet that had clustering of subjects with high signal-to- ...[more]

PMID: 31412024

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Dataset Information

The Babesia observational antibody (BAOBAB) study: A cross-sectional evaluation of Babesia in two communities in Kilosa district, Tanzania.

Background

Methodology/principal findings

Conclusions/significance

Publications

The Babesia observational antibody (BAOBAB) study: A cross-sectional evaluation of Babesia in two communities in Kilosa district, Tanzania.

Similar Datasets

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