Investigations on a Babesia isolated from Scottish sheep

The pathognomic, serologic and morphometric identity of a Babesia sp. recently isolated from sheep in Argyllshire was studied. Initially, problems were encountered due to the occurrence of Eperythrozoon ovis as a contaminant of the isolate and treatment with neoarsphenamine failed to remove it. Finally, a combination of oxytetracycline therapy and rapid passage allowed isolation of the Babesia sp. and its preservation in the form of a glycerolized, infected blood stabilate. Inoculation of the stabilate into splenectomized sheep produced a mile non-pyrogenic disease. Serologically the parasite was seen to have no affinity with either of the two Babesia recognized as parasitizing sheep, but some affinity with the cattle parasite B. divergens. Morphometrically it was seen to have affinity with the deer parasite B. capreoli and with the Babesia sp. isolated from red deer in Scotland, and the low number of budding forms of the parasite seen suggested that the parasite might be reproducing slowly in an alien host. It was concluded that the parasite was likely to be B. capreoli derived from red deer via the tick Ixodes ricinus.