Babesia divergens Bovine piroplasmosis in temperate climatic zones

Kingdom: Protozoa | Phylum: Apicomplexa | Order: Piroplasmida

Giemsa stained blood smear with small pear-shaped (1-2 µm long) protozoa parasites located in red blood cells. Trophozoites are typically seen in pairs divergently positioned in an end-to-end formation peripherally in the erythrocytes. Present in temperate climate regions.

Hosts: Cattle (specific bovine parasite). Intermediate hosts: Hard ticks (Ixodidae), mainly Ixodes ricinus.

Location: Blood vascular system.