A new ovine Babesia species transmitted by Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum.

Abstract

The pathogenicity and morphology of a large Babesia species, Babesia sp. Xinjiang, are described here. The parasite has very low virulence for sheep, and caused no detectable clinical symptoms. Splenectomized sheep infected with the parasite showed mild fever and low parasitemia and would recover gradually. If splenectomized sheep were immuno-suppressed with dexamethasone, the parasitemia could reach 8.5%, and death occurred. A splenectomized calf could not be infected with the Babesia species. Paired parasites were the typical form of the Babesia species in erythrocytes and the average size of a pair of parasites was 2.42 (+/-0.35) microm x 1.06 (+/-0.22) microm. Merozoites were found in the gut, salivary gland, haemolymph, ovary and eggs of female Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum engorged on sheep infected with the parasites. The results of experimental transmission showed that the larval, nymph and adult stages of H. a. anatolicum could transmit the Babesia species to sheep.

• Authors: Guiquan Guan, Miling Ma, Emmanuelle Moreau, Junlong Liu, Bingyi Lu, Qi Bai, Jianxun Luo, Wayne Jorgensen, Alain Chauvin, Hong Yin
• Journal: Experimental parasitology (Exp Parasitol) Vol. 122 Issue 4 Pg. 261-7 (Aug 2009) ISSN: 1090-2449 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19460377 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Animals
• Arachnid Vectors (parasitology)
• Babesia (classification, genetics, pathogenicity)
• Babesiosis (parasitology, transmission, veterinary)
• Cattle
• Cattle Diseases (parasitology, transmission)
• Erythrocytes (parasitology)
• Female
• Goats
• Hemolymph (parasitology)
• Ixodidae (parasitology)
• Larva (parasitology)
• Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques (veterinary)
• Nymph (parasitology)
• Ovary (parasitology)
• Ovum (parasitology)
• Phylogeny
• Salivary Glands (parasitology)
• Sheep
• Sheep Diseases (parasitology, transmission)
• Splenectomy (veterinary)
• Virulence