The effect of infection by Babesia sp. on some biological parameters of engorged females of Boophilus microplus
Guglielmone, A.A.; Mangold, A.J.; Aguirre, D.H.; Gaido, A.B.; De Olsen, A.A.
Folia Parasitologica 36(1): 1-6
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0015-5683 PMID: 2670703 Document Number: 332226
In Argentina, 279 engorged female B. microplus were collected from 3 herds of 8- to 21-month-old Hereford, Criolla or Nellore heifers naturally infected with Babesia (positive in the IFA test for B. bovis). 65 of the ticks were infected with Babesia. More ticks fed on Criolla were infected (28 to 40%) than those fed on Herefords (18 to 40%) although the percentage of blood films positive for B. bovis and B. bigemina was higher in Hereford cattle. The rate of infection of ticks from Nellore cattle was low (5%). There was no significant difference in engorgement weight, preoviposition period, minimal egg incubation period, egg hatching or reproductive efficiency index between uninfected and infected ticks (maximum count of 110 kinetes/haemolymph field), suggesting a possible adaptive tolerance between the tick and the protozoan.