WEBINAR:
Babesiosis: Advances in Diagnosis and Clinical Updates on Tafenoquine
Babesiosis: Advances in Diagnosis and Clinical Updates on Tafenoquine
OVERVIEW OF THE WEBINAR
Babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by Babesia parasites that infect and destroy red blood cells. Common symptoms include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, and vomiting. According to the CDC, reported cases of babesiosis have more than doubled over the past decade.
Because babesiosis is caused by a protozoan parasite—not a bacterium—standard Lyme disease antibiotics, such as doxycycline, are not effective against it. Accurate diagnosis is therefore critical to ensuring appropriate patient management.
In this webinar, we’ll review the epidemiology and clinical presentation of babesiosis, discuss current diagnostic testing strategies and their strengths and limitations, and provide clinical updates on tafenoquine, including emerging evidence and its potential role in the management of babesiosis. You’ll also learn why recognizing babesiosis as a Lyme disease co-infection is essential for improving patient outcomes.
SPEAKERS
Dr. Geoffrey Dow
CEO and President, 60 Degrees Pharmaceutical
Geoffrey Dow is the co-founder, Chief Executive Officer, and President of 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, where he leads the development of therapies for malaria, babesiosis, and other infectious diseases. He has more than 20 years of experience in infectious disease drug development, including 13 years in leadership and advisory roles supporting the U.S. Army’s antimalarial research programs at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity. Dr. Dow played a key role in the development and FDA approval of tafenoquine (marketed as Arakoda®) for malaria prevention and has authored numerous scientific publications and patents related to tropical and infectious diseases.
Dr. Joseph J. Burrascano Jr.
IGeneX Consultant
Dr. Burrascano is an IGeneX Consultant and well-recognized specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease and associated complex infectious diseases, and the chronic illnesses that accompany them. With over 35 years of research in this field, he has appeared in and on virtually every form of media, both in the US and abroad. He has testified before the US Senate and armed services joint subcommittee and at various governors’ consulates. He is also a founding member of ILADS and ILADS Educational Foundation.
WATCH VIDEO & DOWNLOAD SLIDES
Who is the webinar for?
This webinar is perfect for those who would like to learn about the latest advancements in testing and treating Babesiosis.
Outline
Why babesiosis is an increasingly important tick-borne disease (TBD), including its prevalence, geographic expansion across the United States, and its frequent co-occurrence with Lyme disease.
How to recognize the clinical signs and symptoms of babesiosis, such as crushing fatigue, sweats, chills, headaches, cognitive dysfunction, anemia, and treatment-resistant Lyme disease symptoms.
The strengths and limitations of different Babesia testing methods, including serology (ImmunoBlot and IFA), FISH, PCR, and culture-enhanced PCR (cePCR).
How tafenoquine is being investigated as a potential new treatment option for babesiosis, including its unique mechanism of action, use in combination therapies, and ongoing clinical studies evaluating its effectiveness.
The current and emerging treatment landscape for babesiosis, including standard therapies, challenges with relapsing disease and drug resistance, and the latest developments in babesiosis drug development.
Click here to download the webinar slides.
Get in Touch
If you are a physician and would like to learn more about IGeneX or our tick-borne disease testing products, let us know by completing the form below or calling us at 1-800-832-3200. If you are a patient, please do not use this form. Send an email to customerservice@igenex.com or call us at 1-800-832-3200.
Ask Anything Town Hall
Town Hall style session for doctors to connect with leaders at IGeneX to ask questions on testing, tick-borne diseases, or anything else that will help them in their practice.
Session #1
Click to jump to a question:
- Are there any organisms that can give a false positive Babesia test?
- What is the best way to confirm that a patient has been adequately treated for Lyme? IgXSpot? FISH?
- What are the best use cases for Bartonella IFA and Western Blots tests?
- How do you interpret indeterminate results for Relapsing Fever ImmunoBlot?
- Does Relapsing Fever Borrelia respond differently in treatment than other Borrelia species?
- What are your thoughts on treatment when a patient presents with TBRF?
- How much more sensitive is the ImmunoBlot versus the PCR urine test?
- For Morgellon’s patients, what is the best test to determine if they have Lyme disease or TBRF?
- Is a Urine PCR Panel good to use on Morgellons patients?
- Should you prime the immune system with antibiotics before testing?
- What testing is best for Myocarditis?
Session #2
Click to jump to a question:
- What panels do you use for Morgellons?
- How do you diagnose Alpha-Gal?
- Can a patient with Multiple Sclerosis trigger a false positive Lyme antibody test?
- Did my patient trigger a false positive Bartonella test?
- Is Bartonella the cause of my patient’s joint pain?
- If my patient is negative for Lyme, should I reflex to a Relapsing Fever test?