Heartwater: the development and life cycle of Cowdria ruminantium in the vertebrate host, ticks and cultured endothelial cells

Abstract

Various aspects of the development and life cycle of Cowdria ruminantium are discussed. C. ruminantium is transmitted transstadially by certain Amblyomma species. Apparently organisms initially develop in the gut epithelial cells of ticks and subsequent stages of C. ruminantium invade and develop in the salivary gland acini cells of the vector. Stages at which transmission to the final host are attained appear to be coordinated with the feeding cycle of the ticks and the vertebrate host is infected via salivary glands of the tick. In the vertebrate host, ticks and cultured endothelial cells, different morphological forms of C. ruminantium (electron-dense and reticulated forms) are found. Organisms enter cells through a process resembling phagocytosis and reticulated forms of the organisms appear to be the main vegetative stage. In the vertebrate host, organisms proliferate in vascular endothelial cells, neutrophils, macrophages and reticulo-endothelial cells.