The isolation and characterization of human and bovine strains of Babesia divergens from Drumnadrochit, Scotland

SUMMARY Strains of Babesia divergens of human and bovine origin were isolated from the same locality in Scotland. A morphometric comparison was then made between Babesia divergens parasites in blood smears made from groups of 3 splenectomized calves reacting to the inoculation of these strains. The various forms taken by the parasites of each strain were seen to be divisible into 7 categories and representatives of each category were found for each strain. More amoeboid forms were found in blood smears from calves infected with the strain of bovine origin but otherwise the frequencies of occurrence of different forms coincided. The dimensions of 3 forms of the parasites of each strain were compared and theparasites of human origin were found to be significantly larger. The reactions of the groups of calves to inoculation of the 2 strains of B. divergens were seen to be very similar, although inoculation of the bovine strain had a slightly greater effect on the animals' haematology as indicated by an increase in erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume.