CLINICAL PATHOLOGY OF BABESIOSIS: Results of the urinalysis show hemoglobinuria, due to the intravascular hemolysis. In the sediment, renal cells and casts are seen (due to the tubular necrosis), resulting from the hemoglobinuric nephrosis. |
|
|
A macrocytic hypochromic regenerative anemia with severe anisocytosis, polychromasia, and metarubricytemia is seen, and many of the erythrocytes have Howell-Jolly bodies. The rupture of the erythrocyte by the microorganism results in the presence of mature merozoites in the blood, although these are very hard to determine without immunological staining. As with most immune-mediated types of hemolysis, occasionally marked spherocytosis can be seen. |
| Serological tests such as hemagglutination, complement fixation, indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) and agglutination tests can also be helpful tools. Best results are generally obtained using the IFA test, although recent ELISA, PCR, and cell culture techniques have been employed to detect carriers. | |
