Human Babesiosis on Nantucket Island

Abstract

Between 1969 and 1975, seven patients infected with Babesia microti, a tick-borne intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite, were reported from Nantucket Island, Massachusetts.^{1 2 3} Although all seven patients had prolonged illnesses characterized by fever, chills, sweating, myalgia and mild to moderately severe hemolytic anemia, reports of asymptomatic cases of human babesiosis (species undetermined) from Georgia and Mexico suggested that similar infections might occur on Nantucket.^{4 , 5} Since subclinical and mild, self-limited B. microti infections had never been documented in human beings, we undertook a serologic survey of visitors to and residents of Nantucket Island in an attempt to identify such infections.Materials and . . .