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Piroplasm Overheads
Taxonomy of Protozoa
Sarcomastigophora
Labrynthomorpha
Apicomplexa
Microspora
Acetospora
Myxozoa
Ciliophora
Taxonomy of Babesia
Phylum - Apicomplexa
Class - Piroplasmea (Sporozoea)
Order - Piroplasmida
Family - Babasidae (Theileriidae & Dactylosomidae)
Family Babessiidae
Intracellular in RBC's
Reproduce by budding (2 rarely 4)
Major veterinary importance
World wide distribution
Babesiosis
Many commensals rather than pathogens
Wild rodents etc
Transmitted by ticks
Family - Ixoxdidae & Argasidae
Morphology
(in mammalian host)
Large & small species
Large - 2-5 um (B. canis)
Small - 1-2um (B. microti)
Normally round or oval
Merozoites
Apical complex - no conoid
Ray bodies
Gametes
Fuse to form motile ookinete
Babesia Life Cycle
Babseia canis
Species of Babasesia
(of veterinary importance)
Diagnosis of Babesia
Clinical picture
Weight loss - lethargy
Haematouria
Fever
Parasitological
Thick & thin bllood smears (Geimsa stained)
Serology
PCR/monoclonal antibodies
Control of Babesia
Tick control
Insecticides
Treatment
Acaprin, berenil, trypan blue
Large species more susceptible
Good husbandry
Vaccination
Immunity to Babesia
Natural infection - life long immunity
Residual - non-clinical infection
Largely T cell mediated
CD4+ & macrophage activation
Antibody - extracellular merozoites
Vaccination
Killed parasites
Attenuated parasites
Passage in splenectomised calves
Recombinant vaccines
Anti-tick vaccines
Theileria
Taxonomy of Theileria
Phylum - Apicomplexa
Class - Piroplasmea (Sporozoea)
Order - Piroplasmida
Family -Theileriidae (Babasidae & Dactylosomidae)
Family Theileriidae
Intracellular in RBC's & lymphocytes
Reproduce asexually - Macro & micro schizonts
Reproduce sexually - invertebrate
Major veterinary importance
Largely tropics & sub tropics
East Coast Fever
Mediterranean Coast Fever
Transmitted by ticks
Family - Ixoxdidae
Morphology
(in mammalian host)
Macroschizont
Irregular shape - often ovoid
10-20um in diameter
Multinucleate - extracellular
Induce lymphocyte division
Up to 80% of lymphocytes parasitised
Microschizont
Increased parasite nuclear division
Uninucleate merozoites
Source of RBC infection - gametocytes
Life Cycle of Theileria
Species of Theileria
(of veterinary importance)
Diagnosis of Theileriosis
Clinical features
Weight loss
Enlarged lymph nodes & spleen
Mild anemia
Haematouria (rare)
Parasitological
Lymph node biopsy - smear
Thick & thin blood films
Pathogenesis of Theileria
Incubation period
9-24 days - tick density dependent
Draining lymph node enlargement
General hypertrophy
Spleen & liver
Lymphopoesis
Fever
CNS - turning sickness
Pulmonary involvement
Immunologically mediated
Control of Theilerosis
Tick control
Insecticides
Treatment
Butalex, menoctone, tetracyclins
Prophylatic in calves
Infection & cure
Vaccination
Live sporozoite
Attenuated macroschizont
Sporozoite - recombinant
E-mail any comments or suggestions to:
D.P. Humber@UEL.AC.UK
©David Humber 1996 - Last Modified: Tuesday, February 27, 1996 at 09:15 PM
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