Q: Which doctor should I consult for babesiosis?
A: A physician can examine the patient for visible signs of babesiosis. However, lab tests or hospital tests need to be performed to confirm cases of mild, moderate, or severe conditions of babesiosis.
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Q: Are ixodid ticks the only vectors for transmission of babesial parasites?
A: A non-ixodes vector Ornithodoros erraticus has been reported to be a carrier of Babesia meri.
Q: What are the complications involved in diagnosing babesiosis?
A: A major complication that has been observed in making a definitive diagnosis is coinfection. In a coinfection, the individuals are infected with Babesia as well as other species, such as those causing Lyme disease. Conditions, such as anaplasmosis and Lyme disease, that infect individuals may also carry babesial parasites as they are transmitted together by the same vector Ixodes scapularis.
