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Babesia microti serology / PCR in Lyme Disease

Babesia microti serology / PCR, also described as Tick co-infection, is a co-infection marker reported as elevated in Lyme Disease (Lyme borreliosis, Borrelia burgdorferi infection) when patients are compared with Uninfected. The cited literature links this alteration to hemolytic anemia, fever. This entry summarises Swanson et al. 2022. Group-level associations like this do not translate into an individual diagnostic cut-off.

↑ ElevatedCo-infection

Summary

Direction in Lyme Disease↑ Elevated — higher than in the comparison group
CategoryCo-infection
Also described asTick co-infection
Compared againstUninfected
Associated symptomsHemolytic anemia, fever
Test typeBlood test (serum / plasma / whole blood)
SourceSwanson et al. 2022 — doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101987
Condition atlasLyme Disease Biomarker Atlas

Related Co-infection markers in Lyme Disease

Full list: Lyme Disease Biomarker Atlas.

Frequently asked questions

Is Babesia microti serology / PCR high or low in Lyme Disease?

Elevated. Studies summarised in the OSMF atlas report higher Babesia microti serology / PCR in Lyme Disease than in Uninfected. Source: Swanson et al. 2022.

What symptoms is Babesia microti serology / PCR associated with in Lyme Disease?

The cited literature associates this marker with Hemolytic anemia, fever. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.

Which test measures Babesia microti serology / PCR?

It is measured as a blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood). Many of the cited studies used research-grade assays, so clinical availability may vary.

Is one abnormal Babesia microti serology / PCR result diagnostic of Lyme Disease?

No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Lyme Disease. Babesia microti serology / PCR findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.

Cite this page

Open Source Medicine Foundation. (2026). Babesia microti serology / PCR in Lyme Disease: direction, evidence and what it means. OSMF Research Tracker. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://research.opensourcemed.info/biomarkers/lyme/babesia-microti-serology-pcr.html
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Page generated from lyme.json · Browse: Lyme Disease atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages

Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.