Concurrent babesiosis and ehrlichiosis in an elderly host

Mayo Clin Proc. 2001 May;76(5):563-5. doi: 10.4065/76.5.563.

Abstract

An 85-year-old man, actively infected with Babesia microti and Ehrlichia chaffeensis, presented with fatigue and thrombocytopenia. He developed rhabdomyolysis and multiple organ failure, which led to death 6 days after initial presentation. To our knowledge, concurrent acute disease due to these 2 organisms has not been reported previously, although serologic studies have shown that some patients acquire both infections in life.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Babesia / isolation & purification
  • Babesiosis / complications*
  • Babesiosis / physiopathology
  • Babesiosis / therapy
  • Ehrlichiosis / complications*
  • Ehrlichiosis / physiopathology
  • Ehrlichiosis / therapy
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multiple Organ Failure / etiology
  • Rhabdomyolysis / etiology