Summary
The ultrastructure of Babesia major vermicules was studied in samples derived from the haemolymph of Haemaphysalis punctata adults and negatively stained with phosphotungstic acid. Most of the organelles observed were typical of those found in apicomplexan parasites. These were the apical complex with the polar ring and the ribs, micronemes and subpellicular microtubules. The number of ribs was 27 or 28. The outer membrane of the pellicle was composed of a large number of fibrils running along the length of the parasite. The inner membrane had large numbers of irregularly scattered holes. A cytoplasmic organelle similar to the granular body described in Theileria annulata ookinetes was seen for the first time in a B. major vermicule.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aikawa, M.: Ultrastructure of the pellicular complex of Plasmodium fallax. J. Cell Biol. 35, 103–113 (1967)
Brenner, S., Horne, R.W.: Negative staining method for high resolution for electron microscopy of viruses. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 34, 103–110 (1959)
Brocklesby, D.W., Barnett, S.F.: A large Babesia species transmitted to splenectomised calves by field collection of British ticks (Haemaphysalis punctata). Nature 228, 1215 (1970)
Friedhoff, K., Scholtyseck, E.: Feinstrukturen von Babesia ovis (Piroplasmidea) in Rhipicephalus bursa (Ixodoidea): Transformation sphäroider Formen zu Vermiculaformen. Z. Parasitenkd. 30, 347–359 (1968)
Friedhoff, K., Scholtyseck, E.: Feinstrukturen der Merozoiten von Babesia bigemina im Ovar von Boophilus microplus und Boophilus decoloratus. Z. Parasitenkd. 32, 266–283 (1969)
Mehlhorn, H., Weber, G., Schein, E., Büscher, G.: Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchung an Entwicklungsstadien von Theileria annulata (Dschunkowsky, Luhs, 1904) im Darm und in der Hämolymphe von Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum (Koch, 1844). Z. Parasitenkd. 48, 137–150 (1975)
Morzaria, S.P.: Studies on the biology of piroplasms transmitted to cattle by Haemaphysalis punctata. Ph.D. Thesis, London University 1975
Morzaria, S.P., Bland, P., Brocklesby, D.W.: Ultrastructure of Babesia major in the tick Haemaphysalis punctata. Res. Vet. Sci. 21, 1–11 (1976)
Potgieter, F.T., Els, H.J., Van Vuuren, A.S.: The fine structure of merozoites of Babesia bovis in the gut epithelium of Boophilus microplus. Onderstepoort J. Vet. Res. 43, 1–10 (1976)
Roberts, W.L., Hammond, D.M: Ultrastructural and cytological studies of sporozoites of four Eimeria species. J. Protozool. 17, 76–86 (1970)
Scholtyseck, E.: Ultrastructure. In: The coccidia, D.M. Hammond and P.L. Long, eds., pp. 81–144. Baltimore: University Park Press, and London: Butterworths 1973
Scholtyseck, E., Mehlhorn, H., Friedhoff, K.: The fine structure of the conoid of Sporozoa and related organisms. Z. Parasitenkd. 34, 68–94 (1970)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Morzaria, S.P., Bland, P. & Brocklesby, D.W. Ultrastructure of Babesia major vermicules from the tick Haemaphysalis punctata as demonstrated by negative staining. Z. F. Parasitenkunde 55, 119–125 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384827
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384827