Babesia

Question 1

What type of parasite is Babesia: (location)

Answer 1

Intraerythrocytic in intermediate hosts

Question 2

What are the Intermediate hosts of Babesia:

Answer 2

Vertebrates

Question 3

What are the final hosts of Babesia:

Answer 3

Vectors: Ticks

Question 4

What are the main vectors of Babesia spp.:

Answer 4

• Dermacentor reticulatus (Babesia canis)
• Ixodes ricinus (Babesia divergens)
• Boophilus
• Rhipicephalus
• Hyalomma

Question 5

What are the main Babesia species of Cattle: (5)

Answer 5

• Babesia bigemina
• Babesia major
• Babesia bovis
• Babesia divergens
• Babesia ovata

Question 6

What are the main Babesia species of Small Ruminants: (2)

Answer 6

• Babesia motasi
• Babesia ovis

Question 7

What are the main Babesia species of Horses: (2)

Answer 7

• Babesia caballi
• Babesia equi

Question 8

What are the main Babesia species of Dog: (2)

Answer 8

• Babesia canis
• Babesia gibsoni

Question 9

What are the main Babesia species of Cats: (1)

Answer 9

• Babesia felis

Question 10

What are the main Babesia species of Pigs: (2)

Answer 10

• Babesia trautmanni
• Babesia perroncitoi

Question 11

What are the main Babesia species of Humans: (2)

Answer 11

• Babesia microti
• Babesia divergens

Question 12

What are the 3 phases of Babesia life cycle and where:

Answer 12

• Schizogony = Intermediate host
• Gamogony = Final host
• Sporogony = Salivary glands of final host

Question 13

Describe the Life cycle of Babesia:

Answer 13

Intermediate host
1. After bite from a tick, the saliva contains the Sporozoites
2. The Sporozoites infect the erythrocytes of the host and develop into ring shaped Trophozoites, then undergoes multiplication by Binary division forming Merozoites
3. Infected erythrocytes ruptures causing infection of other erythrocytes

Final host
1. Vector (tick) ingests infected blood cells that rupture in the intestine
2. There it undergoes gamogony forming a zygote that enter the intestinal cells
3. There they multiply and form sporokinetes that form into haemolymph and migrate to either:
-Salivary glands: sporogony happens here releasing Sporozoites Trans-Stage transmission
-Ovary: infect the new generation of tics ** Trans-Ovaria Transmission**

Question 14

What are the diagnostic methods for Babesia

Answer 14

1. Clinical signs: fever, anemia, icterus, pigmenturia
2. Blood sampling: capillary blood or vena jugularis
3. Blood smear with staining: Large-2-5um, 2 individuals (acute angle) in centre of erythrocyte. Small-1-2um, 2 induviduals (obtuse angle) peripheral of erythrocyte
4. Serology
5. PCR