Arthropod transmission of Eperythrozoon coccoides in mice

The association of Eperythrozoon coccoides infection in laboratory mice, with commonly encountered external parasites, was examined. Transmission of E. coccoides was achieved by infesting recipient mice with as few as 10 live Polyplax serrata immediately after they were obtained from donor mice infected with E. coccoides. Polyplax serrata removed from such hosts and fasted for 24 hours also were able to initiate E. coccoides infections in recipient mice. Transovarial transmission of E. coccoides through P. serrata was not demonstrated. Transmission of E. coccoides by Myocoptes musculinus, Myobia musculi and Radfordia affinis was not observed.