Babesia
Babesia
Taxonomy
- Kingdom Protozoa
- Phylum Apicomplexa
- Class Aconoidasida
- Order Piroplasmorida
- Family Babesiidae
Final host
Mammals (vertebrate host) Some species are zoonotic
Morphology
The erythrocytic stages are pleomorphic since they can be identified as a single body, as small round bodies or as paired pear-shaped bodies joined at an acute - obtuse angle within the mature erythrocyte The size (large or small Babesia) depends on the species. The apical complex lacks a conoid.
Cycle
Indirect (vectorial transmission) Vectors: ticks (Ixodidae)
Location
Haematic (erythrocites)
Feeding
Holozoic (micropores)
Diagnostic
Merozoites within erythrocytes
Transmission
Sporozoites
