Короткий опис (реферат):
Interest in Babesia species is gaining an increasing attention as an
emerging tick-borne pathogen. Infection is primarily transmitted through
Ixodes ticks, and alternatively by blood transfusions from asymptomatic
donors.
The aim of the study was detection of Babesia seroprevalence in
different groups of population with the usage of experimental B. divergens
whole-cell slide antigen and commercial B. microti immunofluorescence
assay substrate slide.
Materials and methods. Indirect immunofluorescence assay trial was
performed by testing of 145 blood samples of different origins: healthy
individuals (60 – blood donors), risk groups (30 – HIV-infected
individuals, 30 – Lyme disease patients) and false-positive IFA controls
(10 – seropositive rheumatoid arthritis patients, 15 – patients with
toxoplasmosis).
Results. The study revealed Babesia antibodies to B. divergens (6.9%)
and B. microti (3.4%) that were detected with higher (p <0.05) frequency
in HIV-infected individuals (26.7%) and in Lyme disease patients
(16.7%) than at blood donors (1.7%). Diagnostically significant IgG
titres were detected at 23.3% HIV-infected individuals, 13.3% Lyme
disease patients and by 1.7% of blood donors and patients with
seropositive latent toxoplasmosis. Specific IgM were detected at 20.0%
HIV-infected individuals and 13.3% Lyme disease patients. 57.1% of
diagnostically significant titres in HIV-infected and Lyme disease
patients were represented by IgG and IgM.
Conclusion. Immunofluorescence assay has a limited use in
babesiosis: in acute form with negative microscopy or PCR; in chronic,
asymptomatic and subclinical form with low level of parasitemia; and
in retrospective and epidemiological studies of the population immune
structure. Clinicians need to have increased awareness of babesiosis,
and further studies are needed to clarify the optimal management of
this infection in risk groups (including HIV-infected patients and blood
donors).
