LymeNet Flash: Kelmo's Daughter's Babesia Blood Smear...photo

This is topic Kelmo's Daughter's Babesia Blood Smear...photo in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :

Here it is. Nasty little creatures! If anyone else needs help posting, email me!

Michelle

[ 02. June 2007, 02:30 PM: Message edited by: Michelle M ]

Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :

Kelmo,

Sorry for the positive test results, but at least now you know what is most likely causing your seizure-like episodes.

At least no one can accuse the lab of using the same photos for everyone (have heard that statement made in regard to Bowen).

Bea Seibert

Posted by Truthfinder (Member # 8512) on :

Kelmo, it doesn't appear to be a severe infection, so maybe that means there won't be too bad a herx with treatment?

When looking at my own blood sample slides (dark field, I think) for simple blood analysis through various independent practitioners, I was told that those little 'dots' that are out in the middle and away from the red blood cells are usually L-form bacteria.

Does anybody know if that holds true with the F. Lab analysis?

Tracy

Posted by GenaD (Member # 11988) on :

Kelmo,

That looks familiar!

I'm noticing her density was "2"..so that's a mild or moderate infection, right? Mine was 3 (moderate).

My LLMD also said that different strains are worse. Microti and duncani are supposedly very powerful.

The good news is, it isn't "severe"...and now you know and can go after it!!

Posted by painted turtle (Member # 7801) on :

I just received one of these pictures myself with a "4", which really threw me for a loop.

TOTALLY don't want to do this treatment thing!

Good luck Kelmo.

[Smile]

Posted by Jill E. (Member # 9121) on :

Kelly,

Did it come back positive for Bartonella, too? I'm a little confused.

You and I both have seizure-like episodes, and I've been assuming mine are Bart. But I haven't been treated for Babesia yet, so maybe mine are the Babesia getting worse.

Thanks for sharing the photo.

Jill

Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :

Sorry guys...this isn't mine, this is my daughter's picture. See the name...anna on the top.

She had been on zith and rifampin for a year when this was taken, so I'm sure not many babesia will be out in the open. She has sure herxed something fierce since starting mepron in March.

Her ANA titers were down with bartonella treatment, then went up to 1:640 with babesia treatment. After a couple of months, they are back down to 1:160. So, something is going on.

Maybe we should edit the subject to say Kelmo's daughter's photo.

Mine will be coming in a couple of weeks. Dr. F suspects that I am also infected. And, that well could be my seizure cause.

Kelly

Posted by Jill E. (Member # 9121) on :

Kelly,

Thanks for the clarification. That teaches me to not read all the details first!

Good luck with your test, too.

Jill

Posted by jasonsmith (Member # 10914) on :

Those "rings" look different than the "rings" in my slide. My "rings" look too perfect and centered in/on the red blood cells.

Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :

Heres Theileria spp-ring stages in erythrocytes

Bartonella bacilliformis looks same as B,spp

The Babesia ring forms mimic those of Plasmodium falciparum, thus the mistaken diagnosis of malaria.

These two images show typical Plasmodium falciparum rings, note that they tend to be more consistent in shape than those seen in a case of babesiosis. In these images one can see multiple rings/cell, but often only two rings/cell are seen. Also, note the "headphone" appearance of the rings; no rings are seen outside of the RBCs.

Babesia canis
Trophozoites (red arrows) in the red blood cells of a dog.

[ 05. June 2007, 09:33 AM: Message edited by: treepatrol ]

Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :

Babesia Gibsoni dog

Anaplasmosis in a cow

Leishmania - Currently being observed in Fox Hound in the United States

Most of these scattered over google image searchs, bottom ones from:
Vetmed

Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :

Babesia

Babesia

Malaria

Plasmodium falciparum rings young trophozoites

KEY POINTS - LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS

1. Blood smears should be prepared upon admission of the patient.

2. Both thick and thin blood smears should be prepared. At least 200 to 300 oil immersion fields should be examined before the smears are considered negative (use the 100X oil immersion objective).

3. Wright's, Wright/Giemsa, or Giemsa stain can be used, although Giemsa is the stain of choice for blood parasites.

4. Babesia parasites may be missed using automated differential instruments. Even with technologist review of the smears, a light parasitemia is very likely to be missed.

5. There does not have to be any significant history of travel outside the United States. If organisms are seen, they will mimic P. falciparum rings.

6. No morphological stages other than ring forms will be seen. The classic arrangement of the four rings (Maltese cross) is not always seen.

7. One negative set of blood smears does not rule out a Babesia infection.

8. Confirmation of morphologic differences between Babesia and malarial rings might require examination of Giemsa-stained blood films.

[ 05. June 2007, 10:21 AM: Message edited by: treepatrol ]

Posted by Cold Feet (Member # 9882) on :

This is an amazing topic. Thanks for the photos and comments! Very helpful indeed.

Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :

kelso, [group hug]

best wishes to your daughter on her new diagnosis..

michelle, thanks for copying photo here with all the detil, and TREEPATROL, big thanks for the other photos too. i copied this link to my newbie link to help others!! [Wink]

Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :

up

Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :

I am curious if anyone had neg blood tests but positive smears like this?

Thanks

Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :

quote:
Originally posted by merrygirl:
[Q] I am curious if anyone had neg blood tests but positive smears like this?
Thanks [/Q]

Merrygirl,

I had negative blood tests for Bart from Igenex but had a blood smear that came back positive for Bart (from F lab). I would post the photo, but this isn't my topic and don't want to barge in, you know. If you're interested, I could PM you the photo, or you can search for it -- I don't know the entire title, but you can type in "So Happy" and it should be the only one that comes up. That's the post I posted when I found out the positive results.

Posted by cidanu (Member # 12503) on :

i had completely negative blood smears but extremely high antibody titers to babesia duncani.

has anyone else had this and what does it mean?

Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :

Thanks, it is very interesting, but also frustrating!!

WHY OH WHY CAN'T WE HAVE GOOD TESTS??????

[Eek!]

Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :

I tested positive for band 41, but my blood slide was CLEAN. Been having symptoms for years, though.

Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :

quote:
Originally posted by kelmo:
[Q] I tested positive for band 41, but my blood slide was CLEAN. Been having symptoms for years, though. [/Q]

Me too! Only band 41++ IgG positive but I got lucky and had a positive Bartonella slide. I am so thankful I got that to show me. I prayed so hard for an answer, and I got one from that slide.