Babesiosis

Question 1

Causes

Answer 1

caballi- Eq
divergens, major, bovins, bigemina- cattle, vector is female Ixodes
canis, vogeli, gibsoni- dog, vector is dermacentor

Question 2

Sample and method

Answer 2

RBC smear in EDTA tube– need 3 slides with a big drop of blood
Take from buffy coat (btw plasma and RBC’s)
Giemsa- red nucleus and blue cytoplasm
Serodiagnostics: ELISA, IFAT, CFT
Transfusion of blood into splenectomized animals- detection of parasites in smear following latency

Question 3

Position of parasite

Answer 3

IC in RBC’s!

Question 4

Shape

Answer 4

“Small babesia” paired, at the edge of cells- bovis and divergens
“Large babesia” paired at acute angle of RBC’s- bigemina
Pyriform, elongated, round, cigar-shaped

Question 5

Life cycle/transmission

Answer 5

Blood sucking following tick infestation
Transmission can be transovarial from adult tick to eggs or transstadial/intrastadial in male
Merozoites invade new RBC’s and undergo SCHIZOGONY!
Gametogony and sporogony occur in the tick vectors

Question 6

Clinical signs

Answer 6

acute: fever, haemoglobinuria, jaundice, lethargy
chronic: intermittent fever for months

Question 7

Patho signs

Answer 7

Liver: centrolobular necrosis
Splenomegaly 
Cardiac muscle haemorrhages 
Anaemia
Icterus 
Catarrh/patechiae of GI mucosa