Babesia parasites develop and are transmitted by the non-vector soft tick Ornithodoros moubata (Acari: Argasidae)

Parasitology. 2007 Jan;134(Pt 1):1-8. doi: 10.1017/S0031182006000916. Epub 2006 Sep 18.

Abstract

Ornithodoros moubata ticks were fed on blood infected with Babesia equi. However, the parasites were quickly cleared as evidenced by the disappearance of B. equi-specific ribosomal RNA from the ticks. We hypothesized that if the Babesia parasite can escape midgut-associated barriers a non-vector tick can become infected with Babesia. To test this hypothesis, B. equi parasite-infected blood from in vitro culture was injected into the haemocoel of ticks. B. equi-specific rRNA was surprisingly detected 45 days after injection even in the eggs. Babesia-free dogs were infested with O. moubata ticks that were infected by inoculation with B. gibsoni-infected red blood cells. Parasitaemia and antibody production against Bg-TRAP of B. gibsoni increased gradually. These results indicate that O. moubata may be a useful vector model for Babesia parasites and also a very important tool for studies on tick immunity against Babesia parasites and tick-Babesia interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Babesia / genetics
  • Babesia / growth & development*
  • Babesiosis / transmission*
  • Digestive System / immunology
  • Dogs
  • Female
  • Horses / parasitology
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Nymph
  • Ornithodoros / immunology
  • Ornithodoros / parasitology*
  • RNA, Ribosomal / isolation & purification

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal