Babesia... a co-infection of Lyme disease...

The Babesia parasite is considered to be an emerging infectious disease and is being found more and more in blood samples from countries around the world.  More concerning is a report of congenital Babesiosis.  Although considered a co-infection from a tick bite, it is closely related to the malaria parasite.  It finds its way to the red blood cells and makes itself at home there...  The Babesia parasite will interfere with the process of iron uptake by the red blood cells.  Where there is Babesia more often than not you will find Bartonella lurking.


Some of the symptoms of Babesia to look out for include:

Air hunger, Cough, Fatigue, Fevers, Headache, Imbalance without true vertigo, Mild encephalopathy, Shaking chills, Sweats

For more info on the symptoms you can read this webpage.http://www.anapsid.org/lyme/symptoms/tbi-symptoms.html


Abstract:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/18/8/11-0988_article.htm

"Babesiosis is usually acquired from a tick bite or through a blood transfusion. We report a case of babesiosis in an infant for whom vertical transmission was suggested by evidence ofBabesia spp. antibodies in the heel-stick blood sample and confirmed by detection of Babesiaspp. DNA in placenta tissue."


" The mother was asymptomatic during and after her pregnancy. The infant was delivered vaginally and full term at 3,430 g without complications. The infant’s mother had visited parks in Westchester and Dutchess Counties in New York during the pregnancy but was unaware of any tick bites. The infant had no known tick exposure, and neither mother nor infant had a history of blood transfusion."

"This case provided convincing evidence for congenital babesiosis because of prepartum infection involving the placenta in the mother. On the basis of experience with congenital malaria, we assume that Babesia spp. parasites cross the placenta during pregnancy or at the time of delivery. In congenital malaria, increasing evidence suggests that the malaria parasites are most often acquired antenatally by transplacental transmission of infected erythrocytes."

Autism : FACTS you need to know...

Do Tick-Borne Infections Like Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Babesia and Lyme Contribute to Autism, Aspergers and Pervasive Developemental Disorders?

CLICK ABOVE TITLE FOR LINK:

The Lyme-Autism Connection :  by Tami Duncan and Bryan Rosner

Please don't ignore it...  It your child is diagnosed as autistic, if not for yourself, then for your child's sake and future, please get your child tested for Lyme disease by a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD).  This part is very important as any doctor not familiar with Lyme disease can give you a 'false negative'.

"To many parents, the discussion about whether Lyme disease and autism are connected is a moot point. It is really just semantics. The fact is that many children with autism have an active Lyme infection. Debate about whether Lyme causes autism, Lyme contributes to autism, or Lyme comes about after autism does nothing to help the many autistic kids who are testing positive for Lyme disease daily. If kids are infected, then they need to be treated. It is that simple."

"Unfortunately, the Lyme disease diagnosis is often missed in autistic children. Many of these children are diagnosed only after the mother is first diagnosed. The message, then, is clear: if you are the mother of an autistic child, get yourself tested for Lyme disease, and if you have it, the probability that your child also has it is much higher. My story, excerpted below from The Lyme-Autism Connection, co-authored with Bryan Rosner, will help drive this point home."


CLICK THE LINK ABOVE FOR THE FULL STORY:


*~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~*

LIA STANDS FOR  -  LYME INDUCED AUTISM:

"This organization was started because parents with Lyme disease were finding that their children with autism were also testing positive for Lyme disease and experiencing symptoms of Lyme disease and associated co-infections.

The LIA Foundation has become much more than another "autism" organization or another "Lyme disease" organization.  In fact, we fit in neither of these categories very well.  We believe that good basic information is available from other organizations, but we try to take it to the next level, opening our minds to all potential healing methods.  We refer to this as an "Eclectic Healing Approach".  

http://www.lymeinducedautism.com/whatislia.html

Babesia mimics malaria and is on the rise...

Babesiosis, is a potentially deadly tick-borne illness that mimics malaria. It is also a co-infection of Lyme disease and more deadly than Lyme disease can be.

Babesiosis can go undetected in the blood supply.  Currently, there is no test for donated blood to pick up the bacteria, thus putting those who are the sickest at a terrible risk!

The disease is caused by the parasite babesia microti, which invades the body through a tick bite and destroys the body's red blood cells. Through a microscrope the red blood cells can appear to be invaded by a malaria parasite.

Don't believe that you cannot get Lyme or Babesia in South Africa.  I personally know of two people currently living in Australia who have been diagnosed in Australia with BOTH Lyme disease and Babesia from tick bites severla yearsa ago in South Africa.


Live blood analysis has found some of my red blood cells damaged by 'malaria' parasites.  However, since I have never had malaria, I believe that these parasites are infact babesia...

No tests can detect Babesiosis before blood donation

Needing a blood transfusion... ???

The CDC says there is a Tick-borne parasite infecting the U.S. blood supply... !

Now tell me, if this is the case in the US then what chance do we in South Africa have of falling victim to the same thing.  Despite the low reporting on numbers of people with Babesiosis in SA, it is here and in greater numbers than we are made aware of.  

If vets can say that this parasite is commonly found in dogs, then c'mon, it has to be in the human population as well !!

PS:

No tests can detect Babesiosis before blood donation- 

Make Ya Think ?? heh !!

Joy Burge giving testimony in PA

This was an incredible account of what one Lyme patient had to go through to get a Lyme diagnosis..

This is unacceptable in America or anywhere in the world for that matter.  The rest of the world looks to America in matters like this and if they don't get it right.. Guess What ?  We don't stand a hope in hell of getting the powers that be in SA to acknowledge that Lyme disease and it's MANY co-infections are Alive and Kicking in here in South Africa.....

How many more people are going to be allowed to suffer before they wake up to the truth?
Pretending it does not exist is not going to make Lyme disease go away.  Real people, just like Joy are suffering not only from the disease itself, but from the hardship and shame that the medical establishment puts people Lymethrough getting a diagnosis...

Press release: Babesia shown to be transmitted via transfused blood

Press Release 2011 :  Jordan Hospital  (Click title for link)

"Several cases of babesiosis have been identified at Jordan Hospital in the past, and high rates of the disease have generally been found throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York.

Most commonly transmitted by the bite of a deer tick, Babesia has also been shown to be transmitted through transfused blood. Approximately 100 cases of transfusion transmitted babesiosis have been reported, some of which have been fatal."

My Mother received a blood transfusion in November 2001 in Cape Town due to a double by-pass heart operation.   Since then, she has always maintained that she no longer feels herself despite her good recovery from the operation.  Over the years she has developed very similar symptoms to myself.  I was diagnosed with Lyme disease in March 2010 after 30 odd years of mis-diagnosis.  In May 2011 live blood tests revealed what appears to be 'malaria' parasites in my red blood cells.  Now, since I have never had malaria, I am wondering if what I do have is Babesiosis...  !

Babesia may not show symptoms.... by Jenna

I was diagnosed with Lyme disease in Fberuary 2010.  I have not been diagnosed with Babesia, I believe because we don't test for this co-infection of Lyme disease in South Africa.  However, recent results of  'life blood tests' have shown 'malaria' parasites in my red blood cells...  As I have never had malaria or been in malaria risk areas, I am left wondering if these 'malaria parasites' are in fact Babesia...  Click the title for more info.

Babesia : A Lyme co-infection not recognised in humans in SA

For me this is a particularly intersting article.  I have been treated with anti-malarial drugs but never fully understood the reason until I read this article.  Recently whilst doing a deox and having live blood analysis, malaria parasites were seen to be in my red blood cells.  Over a period of 6 weeks, a parasite or two was seen under darkfield microscope on five of these six occasions.  What is even more amazing, this is just in a pin prick of blood...   I wouls love to see a significant sample of my blood under microscope... or would I !!

"Babesiosis is an infection caused by a malaria-like parasite, also called a “piroplasm,” that infects red blood cells. Babesia microti is believed to be the most common piroplasm infecting humans, but scientists have identified over twenty piroplasms carried by ticks."

"Symptoms of babesiosis are similar to those of Lyme disease but it more often starts with a high fever and chills. As the infection progresses, patients may develop fatigue, headache, drenching sweats, muscle aches, nausea, and vomiting. Babesiosis is often so mild it is not noticed but can be life-threatening to people with no spleen, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems. Complications include very low blood pressure, liver problems, severe hemolytic anemia (a breakdown of red blood cells), and kidney failure."