Babesiosis: Reporting and Surveillance

Babesiosis is a category II reportable condition in Wisconsin. Health care providers should report to the patient’s local or Tribal health department in one of these ways:

Complete your report within 72 hours of recognizing a case. To learn more, visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) webpage on Disease Reporting.

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DHS surveillance resources

Provider resources from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Diagnosis of Babesia infection can be made by the observation of Babesia parasites in the patient’s blood smears or by detection of Babesia deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Molecular tests, such as PCR, are useful for:

  • Identifying infected individuals with low parasitemia, such as asymptomatic blood donors in transfusion-associated cases.
  • Diagnosis after infection is cleared by therapy.
  • Discrimination between Plasmodium and Babesia infection in patients whose blood smear examinations are inconclusive and whose travel histories cannot exclude either parasite.

Learn more about babesiosis diagnosis on the CDC website. More details on laboratory diagnosis can be found at DPDx – Laboratory Identification of Parasites of Public Health Concern: Babesiosis.

Most patients without symptoms don’t need to be treated. For ill patients, treatment usually involves at least a 7- to 10-day course of two prescription medications. Longer treatment may be necessary in immunocompromised patients. The typical combinations are:

  • atovaquone and azithromycin (preferred)
  • clindamycin and quinine (alternative)

Severe cases may require a blood transfusion.

More information on treatment recommendations can be found at Clinical Care of Babesiosis. Health care providers may consult CDC staff about treatment options.

Learn more from the CDC

Contact us

Questions about illnesses spread by ticks? We’re here to help.

Bureau of Communicable Diseases
Phone: 608-267-9003
Fax: 608-261-4976

Glossary

 
Last revised July 16, 2024