Attenutation of Babesia ovis by rapid successive passages in splenectomized lambs

Sheep babesiosis, caused by Babesia ovis (Babes, 1892) is one of the most important sheep diseases in the Mediterranean zone, as well as in other infected areas infested by the vector tick Rhipicephalus bursa (Yeruham et al., 1992, 1995). Attenuated strains of Babesia bovis following rapid blood passages in splenectomized calves have been used as a vaccine (Callow and Mellors, 1966; Stewart, 1978). In the work reported here, rapid passages of B. ovis parasites in splenectomized lambs, using blood collected at the acute stage of the disease, were carried out and their effect on the virulence of the parasite was examined.