Experiments on the Babesia bigemina carrier state in East African buffalo and eland

Three captive East African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) were injected with 5 x 109 bovine erythrocytes with Babesia bigemina pathogenic for cattle. None of the buffalo showed signs of disease, but Babesia were found in blood smears for four days indicating their multiplication. The carrier state of Babesia bigemina was established in two buffalo for 28 and 147 days respectively by sub-inoculation into splenectomized calves, while no parasites were demonstrated 28 days after injection in the third buffalo. Two buffalo shot in Kenya did not appear to be carriers of Babesia gibemina, as shown by sub-inoculation of blood in splenectomized calves. Two captive eland (Taurotragus oryx) were inoculated and their blood investigated as with the experimental buffalo. Neither eland appeared to harbour Babesia bigemina 28 days after injection, even though one was splenectomized. The experimental data indicate that the East African buffalo can be a carrier of Babesia bigemina for at least 5 months, while this parasite did not survive in eland. Buffalo may play a role in the epidemiology of babesiosis in cattle, while eland most likely do not.