Experimental studies of the rate of infection of Boophilus microplus eggs with Babesia bovis.

Babasia bovis infection in the eggs of Boophilus microplus was investigated by examining the total output of eggs by 10 engorged female ticks with a level of haemolymph infection with B bovis ranging from 0.2 to 20.6 kinetics per microscope field. The ticks were fed on infected calves, with a parasitaemia ranging from 0.01 per cent to 0.02 per cent, inoculated with a stabilate of B microplus larvae containing the protozoa. Infected eggs, 9.5 per cent of the total eggs laid, were detected from the fourth day of oviposition onwards. No relationship was found between the level of haemolymph infection and the percentage or total number of infected eggs laid.