Babesiosis



Babesiosis originally discovered by Babes (Rumania, 1888) is an important cattle disease that affects all cattle and domestic animals such as cats and dogs throughout the world. Occasionally humans are infected as well.









Babesiosis is transmitted by ticks.(Here the deer tick is shown)

Dog tick

Babesia merozoites inside red blood cells.


The disease strongly resembles malaria: the Babesia parasites which belong to the the phylum Apicomplexa, to which also belong the Plasmodia and the Theileria, develop also inside erythrocytes, as do plasmodiae.

Classification of Babesia

phylum:

Apicomplexa

class:

Pyroplasma

order:

Pyroplasmida

family:

Babesiidae

genus:

Babesia


Babesiosis is economically a very important disease because it affect domesitc animals and especially cattle. It is estimated that there are 1,2 billion heads of cattle worldwide of which the majority is potentially exposed to Babesia spp.


Major Babesia spp. of domestic animals:

Piroplasms in erythrocytes

Host

1.0-2.5 µM (small)

2.5-5.0 µM (large)

Cattle

B. bovis
B. divergens

B. bigemina
B. major

Horse

B. equi

B. caballi

Sheep

B. ovis

B. motasi

Pig

B. perroncitoi

B. troutmanni

Dog

B. gibsoni

B. canis

Cat

B. felis

 

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Last updated: 1 January 1999.

created by :Fred Opperdoes