Parasitic Infections

Scabies

Lice infestation

Schistosomiasis

Ectoparasites

  1. Sarcoptes scabiei (Scabies)
  2. Pediculus humanus and Phthirus pubis (Lice)
  3. Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus (Bedbug)

Clinical Clues

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Babesiosis

The combination of a one week incubation period, the Eastern seaboard clue, and the intra-erythrocyte parasites strongly suggest Babesia microti as the infecting organism. The clinical disease is called babesiosis.

The infecting protozoan is related to Plasmodium and is transmitted by the bite of the Ixodes dammini tick. Occasional cases have been transmitted by blood transfusions.

Most patients are asymptomatic; symptomatic cases in reasonably healthy individuals have the features listed in the question stem. Rare severe cases, which may be fatal, may develop in severely debilitated or asplenic individuals and can be accompanied by severe hemolysis (up to 30% of RBCs may have the parasites) with subsequent hemoglobinuria, hemolysis, and renal failure.

Echinococcosis

tapeworm echinococcus

2 most common pathologic forms: