title: Vertical Transmission of Babesia microti in BALB/c Mice: Preliminary Report.
abstract: Babesia spp. (Apicomplexa, Piroplasmida) are obligate parasites of many species of mammals, causing a malaria-like infection- babesiosis. Three routes of Babesia infection have been recognized to date. The main route is by a tick bite, the second is via blood transfusion. The third, vertical route of infection is poorly recognized and understood. Our study focused on vertical transmission of B. microti in a well-established mouse model. We assessed the success of this route of infection in BALB/c mice with acute and chronic infections of B. microti. In experimental groups, females were mated on the 1st day of Babesia infection (Group G0); on the 28th day post infection (dpi) in the post- acute phase of the parasite infection (G28); and on the 90th and 150th dpi (G90 and G150 group, respectively), in the chronic phase of the parasite infection. Pups were obtained from 58% of females mated in the post-acute phase (G28) and from 33% of females in groups G90 and G150. Mice mated in the pre-acute phase of infection (G0) did not deliver pups. Congenital B. microti infections were detected by PCR amplification of Babesia 18S rDNA in almost all pups (96%) from the experimental groups G28, G90 and G150. Parasitaemia in the F1 generation was low and varied between 0.01-0.001%. Vertical transmission of B. microti was demonstrated for the first time in BALB/c mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 1 Miecznikowa Street, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bednarska
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 1 Miecznikowa Street, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bajer
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 1 Miecznikowa Street, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Drozdowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 1 Miecznikowa Street, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Mierzejewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 1 Miecznikowa Street, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tolkacz
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 1 Miecznikowa Street, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Welc-Falęciak
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D041001:Babesia microti / Q000502:physiology*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000635:transmission*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction