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. 2009 Feb;15(2):320-2.
doi: 10.3201/eid1502.081247.

Natural transmission of Zoonotic Babesia spp. by Ixodes ricinus ticks

Claire A M Becker  1 , Agnès Bouju-Albert, Maggy Jouglin, Alain Chauvin, Laurence Malandrin
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Natural transmission of Zoonotic Babesia spp. by Ixodes ricinus ticks

Claire A M Becker et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009 Feb.

Abstract

To determine characteristics of natural transmission of Babesia sp. EU1 and B. divergens by adult Ixodes ricinus ticks, we examined tick salivary gland contents. We found that I. ricinus is a competent vector for EU1 and that their sporozoites directly invade erythrocytes. We conclude that EU1 is naturally transmitted by I. ricinus.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Microscopic appearance of Babesia sp. EU1 sporozoites isolated from tick salivary glands and of subsequent asexual development in erythrocytes. Sporozoites were stained with Giemsa and observed in the suspension of crushed salivary glands (A, B) and from salivary glands directly crushed between slides (C, D, E). Arrows indicate sporozoite dividing forms. A composite panel of asexual stages cultivated in sheep erythrocytes from these sporozoites is presented (F); developmental stages are indicated by letters (D, dividing stages; M, free merozoites; S, schizont-like form; T, trophozoite). Scale bars = 5 μm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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