Babesia microti (PCR)
Category: Molecular Diagnostics
Sub Category: Parasitic infections
Description:
Babesia microti is a parasite that is usually transmitted through a tick bite and causes Babesiosis, which is an infection of an individuals red blood cells. Babesiosis is a rare disease and occurs primarily in the summer months in the coastal island regions of New England and New York. Not all ticks carry this disease and the tick must be attached to the skin for 36-48 hours before the parasite can be transmitted. Symptoms generally appear 1 to 6 weeks after infection and are flu-like including tiredness, loss of appetite, fever, drenching sweats, and muscle pain. Nausea, vomiting, headache, shaking chills, blood in the urine, and depression can also occur.
