The fine structure of developmental stages of Babesia caballi in the salivary glands of Hyalomma truncatum

Abstract

The development of Babesia caballi in the salivary glands of Hyalomma truncatum was studied at the electron microscopic level. Kinetes were first observed in the salivary glands of ticks on Day 2 of tick feeding and on each subsequent day of feeding until engorgement on Day 8. Sporogony appeared to involve the formation of cytomeres. After continued nuclear division, sporozoites formed when individual rounded nuclei were incorporated into portions of cytoplasm. Sporozoites were first observed on Day 4 of tick feeding and contained typical Babesia spp. organelles with a polar ring and up to 4 rhoptries, spherical bodies, a nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and micronemes. The infection rate in the ticks was approximately 80%.