Bartonella and Babesia Co-Infection Detected in Patients with Chronic Illness

NC State University (7.16.2024) published the article, “Bartonella and Babesia Co-Infection Detected in Patients with Chronic Illness.” This article discusses a pilot study conducted at North Carolina State University that identified co-infections of Bartonella and Babesia odocoilei in patients with chronic illnesses. The study found that six out of seven patients with chronic, non-specific illnesses were co-infected with Bartonella bacteria and Babesia odocoilei. Bartonella are a group of vector-borne bacteria transmitted primarily via arthropods like fleas, lice and potentially ticks. Babesia odocoilei is a protozoal infection typically found in deer, moose, and other cervids, and this study provides some of the first DNA evidence of its presence in humans. The research was supported by NC State’s Bartonella/Vector-Borne Diseases Research Fund and the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, and was published in the journal Parasites and Vectors.

These results were surprising because Babesia odocoilei has not been previously recognized as a cause of human infection, and the patients were located across the U.S. and in Mexico, suggesting that this infection might be more widespread than previously thought. It is also surprising because the study’s findings were obtained in a short time frame, implying that Babesia odocoilei infections may be more common than currently appreciated.

These findings could influence how doctors test and treat patients with vector-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, bartonellosis, and babesiosis. Typically, babesiosis is associated with acute, severe hemolytic anemia, but the patients in this study did not exhibit such symptoms, potentially leading to underdiagnosis. For testing, the researchers used digital droplet PCR testing to detect the DNA of these pathogens in blood and tissue samples. The study emphasizes the need for better diagnostic tools and approaches to help doctors and patients identify and manage these infections.

The study highlights the potential for co-infections in patients with chronic illnesses and the importance of further research to understand the prevalence and impact of these infections. The results suggest that physicians treating Lyme disease and other vector-borne illnesses should consider the possibility of co-infections with pathogens like Bartonella and Babesia odocoilei.

For More Information: 

Read the NC State University Article here.

Read the BMC scientific article here.

Read more about Lyme Co-Infections on the LDA website here.

Read more about Chronic Lyme on the LDA website here.