Using surface immunofluorescence isolate-specific antigens
were detected on the membrane of erythrocytes infected with
Babesia parasites. In addition, the strains reacted differently
with Plasmagel in that the European isolate (B.c. canis) could
be purified on Plasmagel effectively, whereas infected erythrocytes of
the
South-African isolate (B.c. rossi) could not.
Experimental infection of dogs with Babesia canis isolates from
geographically different areas revealed different pathology.
The European isolate obtained from France exhibited transient parasitaemia,
usually
below 1%, associated with low PCV
values and congestion of internal organs. Clinical disease was correlated
with
an effect on the coagulation system, and not
with peripheral parasitaemia. Infection of dogs with South-African-derived
isolate induced high parasitaemia usually
much higher than 1%, which required chemotherapeutic treatment. In these
animals
clinical disease was correlated with
peripheral parasitaemia and not with parameters of the coagulation system.
The
results show that the etiology of disease
caused by these isolates of B.c. canis and B.c. rossi
is different. This might have implications for the development of
vaccines against these infections.
Infectivity and complete nucleotide sequence of the genome of a South African isolate of maize streak virus
