Babesiosis-associated immune thrombocytopenia

Abstract

Thrombocytopenia is a common feature of babesiosis. The mechanism for thrombocytopenia in babesiosis remains elusive. We report a case of babesiosis with severe new onset immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). In addition to antibiotics treatment for babesiosis, ITP therapy was administered. ITP in the present case was most likely triggered by the babesia infection. The severity of ITP in this case was not proportional to the severity of parasitemia. The neoantigen triggering the autoimmune response in babesiosis requires further characterization.