Babesiosis as a cause of false-positive HIV serology.
Smotrys M1, Magge T, Alkhuja S, Gandotra SD
Abstract
This is a case of a 71-year-old homosexual man who presented with a 4-day history of fever, weakness and headaches, near syncope, nausea and poor oral intake. The patient denied recent travel or sick contacts but had significant tick bites in the last 4 weeks. A peripheral blood smear showed 0.5% parasitaemia with signet ring appearance organisms consistent with Babesia microti. Serology testing for HIV 1 and 2 by ELISA and western blot were positive. Treatment for Babesia was started and the patient improved. Repeat serology testing for HIV was negative. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of false-positive HIV serology that is associated with active babesiosis. In this case, the positive HIV serology turned negative after successful treatment of babesiosis.
Smotrys M1, Magge T, Alkhuja S, Gandotra SD
Abstract
This is a case of a 71-year-old homosexual man who presented with a 4-day history of fever, weakness and headaches, near syncope, nausea and poor oral intake. The patient denied recent travel or sick contacts but had significant tick bites in the last 4 weeks. A peripheral blood smear showed 0.5% parasitaemia with signet ring appearance organisms consistent with Babesia microti. Serology testing for HIV 1 and 2 by ELISA and western blot were positive. Treatment for Babesia was started and the patient improved. Repeat serology testing for HIV was negative. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of false-positive HIV serology that is associated with active babesiosis. In this case, the positive HIV serology turned negative after successful treatment of babesiosis.
KEYWORDS:
hiv / aids; immunology; infectious diseases; medical education
PMID: 29884713 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2017-223738
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29884713
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29884713
hiv / aids; immunology; infectious diseases; medical education
PMID: 29884713 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2017-223738
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29884713
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29884713
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
BMJ Case Rep. 2018 Jun 8;2018. pii: bcr-2017-223738. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2017-223738.
