Experimental transmission of the Texas strain of Hepatozoon canis.

Nine dogs were fed Hepatozoon canis-exposed Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks; 6 showed clinical signs suggestive of canine hepatozoonosis, and the parasite was found in sections of muscle tissue from 2 of the dogs. Schizont-like cysts were found in the skeletal muscle of both infected dogs as were gametocytes in the circulating leucocytes. Periosteal new-bone lesions were seen in 1 dog. Attempts to infect a raccoon, 3 cats, 6 laboratory mice, and tick- or canine-cells in vitro, failed.