babesia

n.
A genus of parasitic sporozoans of the family Babesiidae that infect the red blood cells of humans and of animals such as dogs, cattle, and sheep. Also called piroplasm.

[New Latin Babesia, genus name, after Victor Babeş (1854-1926), Romanian bacteriologist.]

(bə-bē'zē-ə, -zhə)
n.

A genus of parasitic sporozoans of the family Babesiidae that infect the red blood cells of humans and of animals such as dogs, cattle, and sheep.

A genus of large, round to pyriform protozoa, of the family Babesiidae. Includes piroplasms. These protozoa pass part of their life cycle in erythrocytes. Transmission between animals is by ticks.

• B. bigemina — causes babesiosis of cattle and some wild ruminants.
• B. bovis — causes babesiosis of cattle and some wild ruminants. Includes B. argentina, B. berberi, B. colchica.
• B. caballi — causes a mild form of babesiosis in horses.
• B. canis — causes babesiosis in dogs.
• B. cati — found in cats.
• B. colchica — see B. bovis (above).
• B. divergens — causes a mild form of babesiosis of cattle and some wild ruminants.
• B. equi — causes babesiosis in horses.
• B. felis — causes babesiosis of cats.
• B. gibsoni — causes babesiosis in dogs.
• B. herpaiuri — found in cats.
• B. hylomysci — found in red deer.
• B. major — causes a mild form of babesiosis of cattle.
• B. motasi — causes acute babesiosis in sheep and goats.
• B. ovis — causes a mild form of babesiosis in sheep and goats.
• B. pantherae — found in cats, leopard.
• B. rodhaini — found in mice.
• B. vogeli — found in dogs.