The isolation and transmission of an unidentified Babesia sp. to cattle by Hyalomma truncatum Koch 1844

Abstract

An unidentified Babesia sp. which causes a mild disease in cattle was isolated in a splenectomized ox that received pooled blood from field cattle. That this organism is pleomorphic and resembles Babesia occultans makes it difficult to differentiate between these organisms microscopically. Initially, it was suspected that this Babesia could be B. occultans. Several attempts to transmit this parasite transovarially with Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, the vector of B. occultans, failed. Continued efforts to identify possible vectors, using Boophilus microplus, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, all failed. The only tick thus far identified that could have transmitted the infection transovarially in the adult stage was the two-host tick Hyalomma truncatum.