TAS::75 0872::TAS SCREENING AND CONFIRMATORY TESTS FOR HUMAN BABESIA SBIR PHASE

人类巴贝斯虫病是一种类似疟疾的疾病，由巴贝斯虫属的各种原生动物寄生虫感染红细胞引起。在美国报告的大多数人类感染是由微孢子虫引起的，它在美国东北部和中北部部分地区流行。微螺旋体感染通常无症状，但也可发展为严重疾病甚至死亡，特别是在免疫抑制、无脾或老年人中。这种寄生虫主要通过鹿蜱叮咬传播，但也可以通过输血传播。在过去40年中，已发现60多例输血传播的巴贝斯虫病。在过去四年中，因输血传播的巴贝斯虫病而死亡的人数惊人地增加。因此，迫切需要通过开发和实施巴贝斯虫血液筛查方法，将风险降到最低。

Human babesiosis is a malaria-like illness due to infection of red blood cells by various species of protozoan parasites belonging to the genus Babesia. Most human infections reported in the United States are caused by B. microti which is endemic in parts of the northeast and north central United States. B. microti infections are often asymptomatic but can also progress to severe illness and even death, particularly in individuals who are immunosuppressed, asplenic or elderly. The parasite is transmitted primarily by the bite of the deer tick, however, it can also be transmitted by blood transfusion. More than 60 cases of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis have been identified over the last 40 years. During the past four years, there has been an alarming increase in the number of deaths due to transfusion-transmitted babesiosis. Hence, there is an urgent need to minimize the risk through development and implementation of a method for blood screening for Babesia.