Babesiosis in post-splenectomy hosts.

Two persons who had been splenectomized later contracted babesiosis, one on Cape Cod and one near Islip, Long Island, areas where human cases of babesiosis had not been previously identified. One of the patients received pentamidine, but parasitemia persisted after therapy. No deaths have been recorded for persons who had had splenectomies and were later infected with Babesia microti. Until more effective therapy is available, such patients should be treated conservatively.