Effect of dexamethosone on babesiosis in Tatera indica (Hardwicke).

Two subcutaneous injections of 0.15 mg of dexamethasone/kg of body weight caused a substantial increase in Babesia microti. Parasitized RBC of Tatera indica, indicating that this was a useful method for revealing the presence of latent infections. A relative neutrophilia, lymphocytopenia, and eosinopenia were also seen in the long term B. microti infected carrier T. indica after 0.15 mg or 0.01 mg of dexamethasone/kg Noninfected T. indica treated with dexamethasone had a neutrophilic leucocytosis and a transient lymphocytopenia. Spleen to body weight ratios of non-infected T indica decreased significantly (P<.02) after three injections with either dosage level. These ratios did not significantly (P>0.05) decrease in dexamethasone treated infected indica.