USE OF IN-VITRO CULTURE TO ISOLATE BABESIA-BOVIS FROM THEILERIA-BUFFELI, EPERYTHROZOON-WENYONI AND ANAPLASMA SPP

On nine separate occasions, Babesia bovis microaerophilus stationary p hase (MASP) cultures were initiated with blood from calves with concur rent infections of B. bovis and Theileria buffeli, Eperythrozoon wenyo ni or Anaplasma spp. In each case B. bovis became established in cultu re and was maintained for 30-49 days. Culture material was inoculated into susceptible splenectomised calves to test for persistence of the other organisms. No haemoparasites other than B. bovis were detected i n Giemsa-stained blood films of recipient calves and no antibodies to T. buffeli or Anaplasma were detected using indirect fluorescent antib ody and card agglutination tests, respectively. The method provides a practical way of removing contaminants such as Theileria, Eperythrozoo n and Anaplasma spp. from B. bovis isolates without the use of drugs, tick passage or repeated syringe passage in cattle.