In vitro cultivation of an African strain of Babesia bigemina, its characterisation and infectivity in cattle.

An African (Kenyan) strain of Babesia bigemina, Muguga (B(2-1)), was inoculated into a calf from a stabilate and blood from the calf was used to establish the parasite in vitro. The strain has been cultured continuously for 20 months, initially in bovine erythrocytes with 60% adult bovine serum, later, with 50%. Cultures were incubated at 37 degrees C in RPMI 1640 medium with a gas mixture of 1% O2, 5% CO2, 94% N2.

Monoclonal antibodies against Babesia caballi and Babesia equi and their application in serodiagnosis.

The production of monoclonal antibodies to the bloodstages of the haemoprotozoan parasites Babesia caballi and Babesia equi and the characterization of their corresponding antigens are described. Species specific and immunogenic proteins of both parasites were identified using SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and ELISA. These proteins were then electroeluted from SDS-PAGE gels and used to immunize BALB/c mice for hybridoma production.

Expression of the Plasmodium berghei ookinete protein Pbs21 in a baculovirus-insect cell system produces an efficient transmission blocking immunogen.

A surface protein of Plasmodium berghei ookinetes, Pbs21, was expressed in a baculovirus-insect cell system in cell culture and in Heliothis virescens larvae. Groups of BALB/c mice received two intraperitoneal inoculations of either i) Tris-buffer or homogenized H. virescens larvae infected with wild-type baculovirus; ii) enriched, homogenized ookinetes, or iii) homogenized H.

Transmission and diagnosis of equine babesiosis in South Africa.

The transmission and prevalence of Babesia equi and B. caballi are being studied. Rhipicephalus evertsi mimeticus an ixodid tick from Namibia was identified as a new vector of B.

Detection of Babesia equi in infected horses and carrier animals using a DNA probe.

The ability of the Babesia equi repetitive probes, pSE2 and pSB20, to detect parasites in blood from experimentally infected, naturally infected and carrier animals was tested using a spot hybridization assay. The clinical course of the experimentally infected horses was monitored using microscopy, indirect fluorescent antibody tests, packed cell volume, temperature and the probe assay. The probes sensitively monitored the parasite level during the development of the disease and correlated well with the other parameters tested.