1. Babesiosis

Question 1

Other names for Babesiosis

Answer 1

• Piroplasmosis (pirum means pear in Greek) because the parasite appears pear-shaped in red blood cells.
• Human babesiosis is also known as Nantucket fever because the disease was first diagnosed after an outbreak on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts

Question 2

Main species of Babesia in humans, dogs and horses in N. America

Answer 2

• Humans: Babesia microti
• Dogs: B. gibsoni and B. canis
• Horses: B. equi (reclassified as Theileria equi) and B. caballi
• B. gibsoni, B. canis, and B. equi have been identified in rare human infections.