Investigations on Babesia motasi isolated from Wales

A number of observations were carried out on the effect of the newly isolated parasite, Babesia motasi (Wales) on intact and splenectomised sheep and on a splenectomised goat. The parasite was not pathogenic for intact animals but caused fever and anaemia in splenectomised ones. B motasi (Wales) was also studied morphologically, morphometrically and serologically. The common form of the parasite was seen to be a double pyriform, the mean length of one side being 2.23 μm. It appeared to be morphometrically and serologically close to the other north European B motasi strains but distinct from B motasi (Turkey). In a limited serological survey, experience of infection with B motasi appeared to be common in sheep grazing in coastal areas of North Wales, but rare in a part of South Wales known to harbour the vector tick Haemaphysalis punctata. Transovarial transmission of B motasi by H punctata took place with facility.