Inhibition of Babesia spp. by plastics

Five commercially available plastic containers were compared with glass for toxicity toward Babesia rodhaini and Babesia bigemina. Comparisons were made by using infectivity tests in mice (B. rodhaini) and cattle (B. bigemina). Low-density polypropylene and polystyrene containers were not toxic, but two of the three polyvinyl chloride containers tested significantly reduced the viability of both species of Babesia. Plasticizer present in various amounts on the surface of the toxic containers was most likely the inhibitory material.