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[[Image:Babesia Life Cycle.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Babesia'' Life Cycle Diagram - Dennis Jacobs & Mark Fox RVC]]
[[Image:Alternative Babesia life cycle diagram.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Babesia'' Life Cycle - Mariana Ruiz Villarreal]]
*Infects a wide range of host species in different areas of the world
*Babesiosis has severe effects on cattle production in parts of the world
**Prevents European breeds from being successful in tropical regions where [[Ticks|ticks]] are endemic.
**Occurs sporadically in the UK and Ireland causing losses of around £8 million per year
'''Life Cycle'''
*Both [[Ticks#Disease Transmission|trans-stadial]] and [[Ticks#Disease Transmission|trans-ovarian]] transmission occurs
*Each female [[Ticks|tick]] produces 3000 eggs
*The [[Ticks|tick]] is the definitive host
*''Babesia'' multiplies in the red blood cells by '''budding'''
**Forms 2-4 daughter cells (species dependent)
**Giemsa blood smears can differentiate between species using 'Difquik' stain
*''Babesia'' species are either small or large depending on the size of the daughter cells
*Small ''Babesia''
**E.g. ''B. divergens''
**E.g. ''B. gibsoni''
**Peripheral nucleus
**Obtuse angle
*Large ''Babesia''
**E.g. ''B. major''
**E.g. ''B. canis-complex''
**Central nucleus
**Acute angle
*Daughter cells disrupt the red blood cell and are released
**Spread and infect other red blood cells
*Antigen is released which adsorbs onto other red blood cells
**Causes haemolysis and [[Pigmentation and Calcification - Pathology#Haemoglobin|haemoglobin pigmentation]]
**Causes haemolytic anaemia, haemoglobinuria and fever
===Enzootic Instability===
*Low rate of transmission
*Few infected [[Ticks|ticks]]
*Infrequent exposure
*Immunity wanes or is completely absent in many individuals
*Low levels of herd immunity
*'''Higher''' incidence of disease
===Enzootic Stability===
*High rate of transmission
*Many infected ticks
*Frequent exposure boosts immunity
*High level of herd immunity
*'''Lower''' incidence of disease
<big>'''[[Babesiosis - Cattle|Cattle Babesiosis]]
*Dogs
**Complex epidemiology
**Recognised species are extending their endemic ranges due to the discovery of the small ''Babesia'' species, pet passport scheme and increased overseas travel
**Large species comprises 3 subspecies
***''B. canis canis'' is the most important
****[[Hard Ticks - Overseas|''Dermacentor'']] vector
****Largely confined to southern Europe but is spreading
***''B. canis'' uses [[Hard Ticks - Overseas|''Rhipicephalus'']] as a vector and is spreading northwards through Europe
***''B. gibsoni'' is now established in the USA and South-East Asia
**British dogs have no immunity as no species are endemic to the UK so are highly susceptible if taken abroad
**Prevention of [[Ticks|tick]] bites by use of an 'Amitraz' collar is currently the best method of protection
*Horses
**2 species occur
**''B. equi'' is the most pathogenic
**Not endemic to the UK
**Serology using ELISA or IFAT to diagnose
*Sheep and goats
**Several species
**Little clinical significance
[[Category:Piroplasmida]]