Tafenoquine: A Breakthrough Option for Babesiosis Treatment

Babesiosis is a zoonosis caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. It has a worldwide distribution and affects many kinds of mammals, principally domestic animals and humans. Because there are no safe and effective vaccines available, the treatment and control for babesiosis continues to involve the use of chemotherapeutics. For years, only a few drugs have been used for clinical treatment, namely atovaquone plus azithromycin or clindamycin plus quinine for human, and imidocarb dipropionate and diminazene aceturate for domestic animals. Although screening and developing alternative drugs are continuously pursued, only a few drugs have been prospected to have clinical applications. Of these, tafenoquine has shown wide and potent antibabesial activity, offering a new option to control babesiosis. This article aims to present the current clinical therapeutic strategies for babesiosis and their limitations, as well as the prospect of tafenoquine as a promising drug to treat babesiosis.