The transmission of Theileria annulata to a rabbit by the larvae of the tick Hyalomma rufipes.

A New Zealand White rabbit on which larvae of Hyalomma rufipes were fed died of theileriosis due to Theileria annulata 22 days after the larvae had fed. The larvae were direct progeny of an enorged female collected from trade cattle in the veterinary control post at Ibadan. The danger attending the feeding on rabbits of first progeny of ticks collected from cattle in countries where some tick-borne diseases are endemic is highlighted. The possibility of transovarial transmission of Theileria is discussed.