Ultrastructure of Babesia bovis sexual stages as observed in Boophilus microplus cell cultures

Propagation of Babesia bovis in a Boophilus microplus cell line resulted in the appearance of the sexual stage of the parasite normally found only within tick intestine. These sexual stages, which possessed spike-like projections containing microtubules, were present in the medium and within cultured cells. Other ultrastructural characteristics of this sexual stage are described.