PIROPLASMS OF DOMESTIC-ANIMALS IN THE MACEDONIA REGION OF GREECE .3. PIROPLASMS OF SMALL RUMINANTS

A study was carried out on piroplasms of small ruminants in the Macedo nia region of Greece, During 1984-1985, 721 serum samples were collect ed from sheep in 49 localities and 487 from goats in 43 localities. Bl ood smears were also prepared from 26 sheep and eight goats in 16 loca lities. The prevalence of positive IFA titres for sheep and goat sera, respectively, was: 24.6% and 0.6% for Theileria ovis, 52.1% and 36.4% for Babesia ovis, 10.5% and 4.2% for Babesia motasi, 12.6% and 6.6% f or Babesia crassa. Many of the positive reactions, specially for the l arge Babesia species, B. motasi and B, crassa, probably resulted from cross-reactions and the presence of these two species is doubtful, Ant ibodies against B. ovis were found in animals from more than 90% of th e localities. T. ovis was also common, but it was confined essentially to sheep, The examination of Giemsa stained blood smears revealed the presence of T. ovis and B. ovis in sheep, and Anaplasma ovis in a goa t.