First report of Babesia divergens in Tunisia

Abstract

Babesia divergens of bovine origin was isolated, for the first time in Tunisia, from a cow of a local breed (Bos taurus) from a locality in the north-west of the country. Gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were used for the isolation of the parasite which was inoculated into a splenectomised Friesian calf that developed a babesiosis, thus confirming the presence of the parasite.