Babesia spp.

Babesia spp.

1. Babesia bigemina

   • Reduced apical complex
   • Babesiosis AKA Texas Red Water Fever AKA Pioplasmosis
   • In RBCs of vertebrates + ticks
     • First documented case of antrhopod transmission of any parasite
     • One host ticks (feeding, maturing, and mating in same host)
       • Boophilus annulatus
         • Exclusive to cattle via transovarian transmission
       • Boophilus microplus
   • Infects cattle; destroys RBCs, causes bloody urine; can kill in a week
     • Also infects deer, water buffalo, and zebu

2. Babesia sp.

   • Similar to plasmodium
   • Abvsence of pigment from destroyed Hb
   • Tetrad pathogenomic for babesia

3. Canine Piroplasmosis

   • B. canis
   • B. gibsoni
   • Rhipicephalus sanguineus
   • Causes Depression, anorexia, anemia, splenomegaly

4. Human Babesiosis

   • B. microti in New England
   • Accidental Host
     • Naturally found in field mice, voles, and deer
   • Transmitted by Ixodes dammini
   • Causes fever, weakness, jaundice, heptosplenomegaly; hemolytic anemia
     • More serious in persons who have had spenectomies
       • Fatal in 4 with splenectomies