Babesia microti: an unusual travel-related disease.

BACKGROUND

Human babesiosis is a rare tick-borne infectious disease. The clinical presentation ranges from an asymptomatic form to a life threatening infection with severe hemolysis. Human babesiosis due to Babesia microti is the most common and is endemic in North America.

CASE PRESENTATION: We report a European patient with severe pancytopenia and reactive hemophagocytosis related to a Babesia microti infection. Babesia infection was acquired during a travel in the USA.

CONCLUSION

Babesiosis should be considered in patients who traveled in endemic areas, especially North America for the most common agent Babesia microti.