ESTABLISHMENT OF BOOPHILUS-MICROPLUS INFECTED WITH BABESIA-BIGEMINA BY USING IN-VITRO TUBE-FEEDING TECHNIQUE

The in vitro tube feeding technique is used to establish a laboratory colony of Boophilus Microplus infected with Babesia bigemina. Pre-fed engorged female ticks offered 2 x 10(4) and 2 x 10(5)/ml of B, bigemin a infected bovine red blood cells (RBC) showed sporokinetes in the hae molymph smear sample, and positive signals for B. bigemina in polymera se chain reaction(PCR). Larvae laid from the ticks offered 2 x 10(5)/m l of B. bigemina infected RBC showed evidence for B, bigemina infectio n in microscopic method and PCR. While larvae laid from the ticks offe red 2 x 10(4)/ml of B. bigemina infected RBC showed positive for B. bi gemina in only PCR. The females offered 2 x 10(3)/ml B. bigemina infec ted RBC and their larvae did not show positive evidences for B. bigemi na infection. It is thought that the in vitro tube feeding technique c an be a convenient method to study the relationship between ticks and tick-borne pathogens. It is also suggested that the superior sensitivi ty of PCR compared to the microscopic method in detection of B. bigemi na from the tick sample. especially in larvae.