One Health approach to Babesia and Bartonella species: occupational zoonotic infections in veterinary workers and their families

Abstract This study investigated the presence of Babesia , Bartonella , and Borrelia spp infection in an extended veterinary family. Between May 2023 and August 2025, 8 individuals enrolled in an Institutional Review Board–approved observational study. Serological evidence of Bartonella spp exposure and molecular evidence of Babesia , Bartonella , and Borrelia spp infection were assessed. Among other symptoms, at least half of the study participants reported chronic fatigue, headaches, anxiety, depression, and difficulty remembering. On the basis of PCR amplification and DNA sequencing, infection with Babesia odocoilei , Babesia divergens –like MO-1, Babesia gibsoni , or Babesia microti was confirmed in 4 individuals . Three other individuals were PCR positive for Piroplasmida/Apicomplexa DNA. Four individuals were seroreactive to 1 or more Bartonella spp and 6 individuals were Bartonella PCR positive in blood, serum, or enrichment blood cultures. Six individuals had at least 1 Borrelia partition detected by digital PCR; however, efforts in our laboratory to confirm Borrelia digital PCR positivity by DNA sequencing were not successful. Similar to this extended veterinary family, previous studies have documented that veterinarians and veterinary workers may be occupationally at risk for exposure to Bartonella spp. On the basis of the results of this study, veterinary workers may also be at risk for infection with Babesia spp and potentially other Piroplasmida/Apicomplexa organisms. The potential that chronic intravascular or endotheliotropic infections with vector-borne pathogens contributes to multisystem illnesses in veterinary workers deserves future research considerations, which, on a clinical, epidemiological, and microbiological basis, will require sequential lifetime studies.