Babesia parasites reproduce in red blood cells, where they can be seen as cross-shaped inclusions (4 merozoites asexually budding but attached together forming a structure looking like a "Maltese Cross") and cause hemolytic anemia, quite similar to malaria. Note that unlike the Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria, Babesia species lack an exo-erythrotic phase, so the liver is usually not affected. The cycle depends on two primary components, an infected vertebrate host and an infected tick. Transmission from a tick to a human occurs over the course of a complete blood meal. Inoculation rates will rapidly increase in direct correlation with the span of the tick's blood meal.
Babesiosis pathophysiology
Bubonic plague pathophysiology
Roseola pathophysiology
Tularemia pathophysiology
Brucellosis pathophysiology
Legionellosis pathophysiology
Shigellosis pathophysiology
Typhoid fever pathophysiology