Publications

expansion of zoonotic babesiosis and reported human cases, connecticut, 2001-2010.	to document the expansion of human babesiosis in connecticut, we analyzed reservoir host sera for seroreactivity to babesia microti franca and reviewed connecticut human surveillance case data collected during 2001-2010. sera from white-footed mice, peromyscus leucopus rafinesque, from 10 towns in 5 counties, collected at 4-7-yr periods between 2001 and 2010, were tested for total immunoglobulins. the prevalence of b. microti-positive mice was compared with confirmed and probable human case repo ...	2014	24605475
serum antibodies to borrelia burgdorferi, anaplasma phagocytophilum, and babesia microti in recaptured white-footed mice.	a mark-release-recapture study was conducted during 2007 through 2010 in six, tick-infested sites in connecticut, united states to measure changes in antibody titers for borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, anaplasma phagocytophilum, and babesia microti in peromyscus leucopus (white-footed mice). there was an overall recapture rate of 40%, but only four tagged mice were caught in ≥2 yr. sera from 561 mice were analyzed for total antibodies to b. burgdorferi and a. phagocytophilum by using whole-c ...	2013	23568904
babesia microti real-time polymerase chain reaction testing of connecticut blood donors: potential implications for screening algorithms.	babesia microti, an intraerythrocytic parasite, has been implicated in transfusion transmission. b. microti seroprevalence in connecticut (ct) blood donors is approximately 1%; however, it is not known what percentage of donors is parasitemic and poses a risk for transmitting infection. therefore, we determined the prevalence of demonstrable b. microti dna in donors from a highly endemic area of ct and compared observed rates with concurrent immunofluorescence assay (ifa) testing results.	2013	23445322
lookback investigations of babesia microti-seropositive blood donors: seven-year experience in a babesia-endemic area.	background: human babesiosis in the united states is primarily attributable to infection with the intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite, babesia microti. transfusion-transmitted babesia (ttb) is a mounting blood safety concern; approximately 100 us cases of ttb have been reported since 1980. in response, market withdrawal (mw) and/or lookback (lb) has been advocated for cellular components derived from babesia-positive blood donors. study design and methods: immunofluorescence assay (ifa) and sel ...	2011	21910741
babesiosis: an emerging infectious disease that can affect those who travel to the northeastern united states.	a case is presented of a healthy, 57 year-old male living in ohio who traveled to connecticut and later developed a severe case of babesiosis. the patient presented to his primary care physician with a history of intermittent fever and myalgias and was admitted to the hospital for investigation. on admission, he was found to have fever, left flank pain, and thrombocytopenia. the patient had an intact spleen, had no significant medical history, and had not received any blood products previously. ...	2011	21862413
seroprevalence of babesia microti in blood donors from babesia-endemic areas of the northeastern united states: 2000 through 2007.	current estimates of 70 cases of transfusion-transmitted babesia microti, with 12 associated deaths, suggest that babesia is a growing blood safety concern. the extent of babesia infections among blood donors has not been well defined. to determine how common exposure to b. microti is among blood donors, a seroprevalence study was undertaken in the american red cross northeast division.	2009	19821951
antibodies to whole-cell or recombinant antigens of borrelia burgdorferi, anaplasma phagocytophilum, and babesia microti in white-footed mice.	serum samples were obtained from white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus) in tick-infested areas of connecticut during the period 2001 through 2003 and analyzed for antibodies to borrelia burgdorferi, anaplasma phagocytophilum, and babesia microti. emphasis was placed on the evaluations of highly specific recombinant vlse or protein (p) 44 antigens of b. burgdorferi and a. phagocytophilum, respectively, in a newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) as well as testing sera with wh ...	2006	17255439
demonstrable parasitemia among connecticut blood donors with antibodies to babesia microti.	reports of transfusion-transmitted babesia microti have risen steadily during the past several years, reflecting a concurrent increase in us cases of human babesiosis. although several studies have measured b. microti antibodies in blood donors, little is known about associated parasitemia and the inherent risk of transmitting the parasite by transfusion.	2005	16271108
babesiosis in fairfield county, connecticut.		2004	15116708
increasing health burden of human babesiosis in endemic sites.	human infection due to babesia microti has been regarded as infrequent and a condition primarily affecting the elderly or immunocompromised. to determine whether risk in endemic sites may be increasing relative to that of borrelia burgdorferi and to define its age-related clinical spectrum, we carried out a 10-year community-based serosurvey and case finding study on block island, rhode island. less intensive observations were conducted in nearby sites. incidence of babesial infection on block i ...	2003	12875292
prospective study of coinfection in patients with erythema migrans.	the frequency of coinfection with borrelia burgdorferi and either anaplasma phagocytophila or babesia microti among patients with erythema migrans, the initial skin lesion of lyme disease, was assessed in 2 mainland locations in rhode island and connecticut in a 4-year prospective study. of the 93 patients with culture-proven erythema migrans, 2 (2%) patients had coinfection with a. phagocytophila and 2 (2%) had coinfection with b. microti. we concluded that the frequency of coinfection with the ...	2003	12684924
relationship between tick bites and the seroprevalence of babesia microti and anaplasma phagocytophila (previously ehrlichia sp.) in blood donors.	tick-borne diseases, particularly babesiosis and ehrlichiosis, represent recently emerging infections. despite an increased recognition of the threat tick-borne agents pose to blood safety, our understanding of the prevalence and transmissibility of these agents in blood donors is limited.	2002	12473139
human exposure to a granulocytic ehrlichia and other tick-borne agents in connecticut.	indirect fluorescent-antibody (ifa) staining methods with ehrlichia equi (mrk or bds strains) and western blot analyses containing a human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (hge) agent (nch-1 strain) were used to confirm probable human cases of infection in connecticut during 1995 and 1996. also included were other tests for ehrlichia chaffeensis, the agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis (hme), babesia microti, and borrelia burgdorferi. thirty-three (8.8%) of 375 patients who had fever accompanied by m ...	1998	9738027
antibodies to multiple tick-borne pathogens of babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and lyme borreliosis in white-footed mice.	serum samples from peromyscus leucopus (white-footed mouse), collected in connecticut (usa) in 1983, 1985, and during 1990 to 1993, were analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) or indirect fluorescent antibody (ifa) staining methods for antibodies to borrelia burgdorferi (strain 2591), babesia microti, ehrlichia chaffeensis (arkansas strain), and ehrlichia equi (mrk strain). of the 294 serum samples tested, 160 (54%) contained immunoglobulins to one or more of these pathogens. t ...	1997	9249691
coexistence of antibodies to tick-borne pathogens of babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and lyme borreliosis in human sera.	serum specimens from persons with or without lyme borreliosis were analyzed by indirect fluorescent antibody staining methods for total immunoglobulins to babesia microti, ehrlichia chaffeensis (arkansas strain), and ehrlichia equi (mrk strain). there was serologic evidence of human exposure to multiple tick-borne agents in 15 (6.6%) of 227 serum samples obtained in connecticut and minnesota. of these, 10 serum samples were from connecticut patients who had erythema migrans and antibodies to bor ...	1995	8576376
the risk of acquiring lyme disease or babesiosis from a blood transfusion.	to determine the risk of acquiring lyme disease or babesiosis from blood transfusion, serum was collected before and 6 weeks after patients received multiple transfusions during cardiothoracic surgery and antibodies to borrelia burgdorferi and babesia microti were measured. of 155 subjects, 149 received 601 total units of packed red blood cells (prbc) and 48 received 371 total units of platelets. no patient developed clinical or serologic evidence of lyme disease; 1 (who received 5 units of prbc ...	1994	8014507
babesiosis in a connecticut resident.	fewer than 200 confirmed cases of babesiosis have been reported in the last decade. most cases in the united states have occurred on cape cod, nantucket island, and long island. babesia microti, a malaria-like protozoan that parasitizes erythrocytes, is responsible for this illness in the united states. infection is often subclinical but may be fulminant, especially in infants, the elderly, and in asplenic patients. symptoms are nonspecific, usually consisting of fever and myalgias. common labor ...	1990	2225809
transfusion-transmitted babesiosis: a case report from a new endemic area.	the seventh documented case of babesiosis transmitted by transfusion is reported. both the donor and the recipient are residents of connecticut, where the presence of endemic babesiosis has only recently been established. as the range of babesia microti, and its vector the ixodes dammini tick, continues to expand, clinicians and blood bank directors should be aware that cases of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis may occur in newly endemic areas.	1991	2021001
geographical and temporal distribution of babesial infection in connecticut.	human babesiosis was first recognized in connecticut in 1989, nearly 15 years after lyme disease, a similarly transmitted spirochetosis, was detected in the state. to determine the seroprevalence for the babesial pathogen and whether it was recently introduced, we used an indirect immunofluorescence assay to test for babesia microti antibody in 1,285 connecticut residents. four groups were studied: i, people seropositive for lyme disease, tested from 1986 to 1989; ii, randomly selected outpatien ...	1991	1993742
babesia microti, human babesiosis, and borrelia burgdorferi in connecticut.	babesia microti was isolated from a white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus) that was captured in southeastern connecticut in 1988, when the first human case of babesiosis acquired in connecticut was recognized. to date, 13 cases of babesiosis have been reported in connecticut, the largest number of human cases reported on the mainland united states. two of nine patients quiried remembered a prior tick bite. since babesia parasites are known to be vectored only by ticks, we surmise that 12 of th ...	1991	1757548
babesiosis: an underdiagnosed disease of children.	babesiosis is a malaria-like illness caused by the intraerythrocytic parasite babesia microti and is transmitted by the same tick that transmits borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of lyme disease. babesiosis is well recognized in adult residents of southern new england and new york but has been described in only five children. to determine whether children are infected with b microti less often than are adults, a prospective serosurvey was carried out on block island, ri, where babesiosis ...	1992	1594345