Experimental transmission of an unnamed bovine Babesia by Hyalomma spp., Haemaphysalis longicornis and Boophilus microplus.

Experiments were undertaken to determine the mode of transmission to cattle of an unnamed Babesia sp. by Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum, Hyalomma detritum, Hy. rufipes koch, Haemaphysalis longicornis and Boophilus microplus. The unnamed Babesia species designated Babesia U sp. was isolated by infesting cattle with nymphs from female Hy. a. anatolicum ticks collected from Xinjiang province. Adults of laboratory reared Hy. a. anatolicum, Hy. detritum and Hy. rufipes koch were infected with Babesia U sp. by feeding on infected cattle, isolated with nymphal ticks of Hy. a. anatolicum derived from females collected from field. The experiments revealed that Hy. a. anatolicum was capable of transmitting Babesia U sp. transovarially in larval (2 of 4 calves), nymphal (6 of 6 calves) and adult (3 of 8 calves) stages, with prepatent periods of 16, 12, and 8 days, respectively, and that this Babesia was also transovarially transmitted by both the nymphal and adult stages of Hy. detritum and Hy. rufipes. Attempts to transmit this Babesia U sp. transovarially with Hae. longicornis and B. microplus, and transstadially with Hyalomma spp., were carried out, and the results proved to be negative.