Therapy of Experimental Babesiosis

Babesia microti infections established in hamsters were treated successfully with clindamycin. Regimens that contained this drug consistently cleared the infection rapidly and without relapse once the drug was discontinued. Late in the course of the infection, the addition of quinine, through the oral but not parenteral route, to clindamycin therapy, was more effective than clindamycin alone. Both clindamycin and the combination of clindamycin and oral quinine are safe, effective treatments for life-threatening babesiosis.