Retrospective study of the epidemiological risk and serological diagnosis of human babesiosis in Asturias, Northwestern Spain
Abstract Background Babesiosis is a globally growing tick-borne disease in humans. Severe babesiosis caused by Babesia divergens has been reported in two patients from Asturias (Northwestern Spain), suggesting an undetected risk for the disease. To analyze this risk, we retrospectively evaluated the...
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BMC
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05817-x |
| _version_ | 1797806868737818624 |
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| author | Estrella Montero María Folgueras Mercedes Rodriguez-Pérez Laura Pérez-ls Javier Díaz-Arias Maria Meana Belén Revuelta Karita Haapasalo Julio Collazos Víctor Asensi Luis Miguel Gonzalez |
| author_facet | Estrella Montero María Folgueras Mercedes Rodriguez-Pérez Laura Pérez-ls Javier Díaz-Arias Maria Meana Belén Revuelta Karita Haapasalo Julio Collazos Víctor Asensi Luis Miguel Gonzalez |
| author_sort | Estrella Montero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Babesiosis is a globally growing tick-borne disease in humans. Severe babesiosis caused by Babesia divergens has been reported in two patients from Asturias (Northwestern Spain), suggesting an undetected risk for the disease. To analyze this risk, we retrospectively evaluated the seroprevalence of babesiosis in the Asturian population from 2015 through 2017, a period covering the intermediate years in which these two severe cases occurred. Methods Indirect fluorescent assay (IFA) and Western blot (WB) were performed to detect B. divergens IgG antibodies in 120 serum samples from Asturian patients infected with the tick-transmitted spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, a condition that indicates exposure to tick bites. Results This retrospective study confirmed a B. divergens seroprevalence rate of 39.2% according to IFA results. B. divergens incidence was 7.14 cases/100,000 population, exceeding previously reported seroprevalence rates. No differences in epidemiology and risk factors were found between patients infected solely with B. burgdorferi s.l. and those infected with B. burgdorferi s.l. and with IgG antibodies against B. divergens. This last group of patients lived in Central Asturias, had a milder clinical course and, according to WB results, developed different humoral responses against B. divergens. Conclusions Babesia divergens parasites have circulated for several years in Asturias. Epidemiological evidence of babesiosis makes Asturias an emerging risk area for this zoonosis. Human babesiosis could also be relevant in other Spanish and European regions affected by borreliosis. Hence, the potential risk of babesiosis on human health in Asturias and other European forest regions needs to be addressed by the health authorities. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:13:54Z |
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| id | doaj.art-be0bd5bd016a4f9b8da77446ba9aa70b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:13:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-be0bd5bd016a4f9b8da77446ba9aa70b2023-06-11T11:06:58ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052023-06-0116111010.1186/s13071-023-05817-xRetrospective study of the epidemiological risk and serological diagnosis of human babesiosis in Asturias, Northwestern SpainEstrella Montero0María Folgueras1Mercedes Rodriguez-Pérez2Laura Pérez-ls3Javier Díaz-Arias4Maria Meana5Belén Revuelta6Karita Haapasalo7Julio Collazos8Víctor Asensi9Luis Miguel Gonzalez10Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MajadahondaInfectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo University School of MedicineMicrobiology Service, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo University School of MedicineResearcher, Group of Translational Research in Infectious Diseases, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA)Researcher, Group of Translational Research in Infectious Diseases, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA)Internal Medicine, Hospital Alvarez-BuyllaParasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MajadahondaDepartment of Bacteriology and Immunology, Medicum, University of HelsinkiInfectious Diseases Unit, Hospital de GaldácanoInfectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias and Group of Translational Research in Infectious Diseases, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA)Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MajadahondaAbstract Background Babesiosis is a globally growing tick-borne disease in humans. Severe babesiosis caused by Babesia divergens has been reported in two patients from Asturias (Northwestern Spain), suggesting an undetected risk for the disease. To analyze this risk, we retrospectively evaluated the seroprevalence of babesiosis in the Asturian population from 2015 through 2017, a period covering the intermediate years in which these two severe cases occurred. Methods Indirect fluorescent assay (IFA) and Western blot (WB) were performed to detect B. divergens IgG antibodies in 120 serum samples from Asturian patients infected with the tick-transmitted spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, a condition that indicates exposure to tick bites. Results This retrospective study confirmed a B. divergens seroprevalence rate of 39.2% according to IFA results. B. divergens incidence was 7.14 cases/100,000 population, exceeding previously reported seroprevalence rates. No differences in epidemiology and risk factors were found between patients infected solely with B. burgdorferi s.l. and those infected with B. burgdorferi s.l. and with IgG antibodies against B. divergens. This last group of patients lived in Central Asturias, had a milder clinical course and, according to WB results, developed different humoral responses against B. divergens. Conclusions Babesia divergens parasites have circulated for several years in Asturias. Epidemiological evidence of babesiosis makes Asturias an emerging risk area for this zoonosis. Human babesiosis could also be relevant in other Spanish and European regions affected by borreliosis. Hence, the potential risk of babesiosis on human health in Asturias and other European forest regions needs to be addressed by the health authorities. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05817-xBabesia divergensEpidemiological riskSerological diagnosisTicksVector-borne diseases |
| spellingShingle | Estrella Montero María Folgueras Mercedes Rodriguez-Pérez Laura Pérez-ls Javier Díaz-Arias Maria Meana Belén Revuelta Karita Haapasalo Julio Collazos Víctor Asensi Luis Miguel Gonzalez Retrospective study of the epidemiological risk and serological diagnosis of human babesiosis in Asturias, Northwestern Spain Parasites & Vectors Babesia divergens Epidemiological risk Serological diagnosis Ticks Vector-borne diseases |
| title | Retrospective study of the epidemiological risk and serological diagnosis of human babesiosis in Asturias, Northwestern Spain |
| title_full | Retrospective study of the epidemiological risk and serological diagnosis of human babesiosis in Asturias, Northwestern Spain |
| title_fullStr | Retrospective study of the epidemiological risk and serological diagnosis of human babesiosis in Asturias, Northwestern Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Retrospective study of the epidemiological risk and serological diagnosis of human babesiosis in Asturias, Northwestern Spain |
| title_short | Retrospective study of the epidemiological risk and serological diagnosis of human babesiosis in Asturias, Northwestern Spain |
| title_sort | retrospective study of the epidemiological risk and serological diagnosis of human babesiosis in asturias northwestern spain |
| topic | Babesia divergens Epidemiological risk Serological diagnosis Ticks Vector-borne diseases |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05817-x |
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