Babesia spp. (1) Flashcards
What are the common names?
B. canis
B. gibsoni
Canine babesiosis
Canine piroplasmosis
What are the hosts?
Dogs
Occasionally humans
How do you identify?
Stained blood smears demonstrate Trophozoites in red blood cells
Round
Ovoid
Elongate
Amoeboid
Pyriform
Club-shaped
In pairs as Pyriform Merozoites or in tetrads as cruciform Merozoites
Measure 5 micro m
Babesia canis vogeli - infects dogs in North America and Northern
Africa
B. gibsoni - found in erythrocytes of dogs
- 3 micro m - Reported in St.Kitts
Explain the life cycle
Dogs inoculated by tick vector (R. sanguineus)
B. canis sporozoites enter the bloodstream
Multiply by Schizogony in erythrocytes
Host cell rupture
New organisms penetrate new cells
Ticks become infected by ingesting infected blood
In tick gut, generations of Schizogony
Production of elongated, motile, club-shaped bodies - vermicules
Infect tick eggs
- Continue to multiply to infect tick larva (transoval transmission)
Cause small Pyriform bodies in salivary cells
- Forming sporozoites - inoculated into new host
Entire process: 7 days
Sporozoites -> Trophozoites -> Amoeboid form -> binary fission ->
Pyriform bodies (Merozoites) -> Cruciform bodies -> Tick ingests
infected blood cells -> Tick passes sporozoites to host
What are the sites of infection?
Erythrocytes
Describe the Pathogenesis
Erythrocyte destruction leads to:
- Depression - Anorexia - Anemia - Splenomegaly
Canine Babesiosis
- Etiological agents in USA
- B. canis (large form)
- B. gibsoni and B. conradae (small farm)
How do you diagnose?
Destruction of Trophozoites and Merozoites in peripheral blood smear
- Giemsa stain
Serology available
How do you treat and prevent?
Antiprotozoal remedies effective
- Not approved in USA
Control of R. sanguineus
What is important about Babesia spp.?
It is ZOONOTIC
