A new ovine Babesia species transmitted by Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum.
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.
Guan
Guiquan
G
Key Lab. of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Key Lab. of Grazing Animal Diseases MOA, State Key Lab.of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, PR China.
Ma
Miling
M
Moreau
Emmanuelle
E
Liu
Junlong
J
Lu
Bingyi
B
Bai
Qi
Q
Luo
Jianxun
J
Jorgensen
Wayne
W
Chauvin
Alain
A
Yin
Hong
H
D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D001403:Babesia / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000469:parasitology; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D007814:Larva / Q000469:parasitology; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D009758:Nymph / Q000469:parasitology; D010053:Ovary / Q000469:parasitology; D010063:Ovum / Q000469:parasitology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000469:parasitology; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D014774:Virulence