Natural infection rates of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum with theileria in Sudan.

ABSTRACT

Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum ticks were collected around cattle pens at two locations close to Khartoum. They were assessed for theileria infection by four methods. Salivary glands were stained whole with methyl green pyronin and examined for parasite masses. Adult ticks were partially fed on rabbits, ground up in medium, and the suspensions were examined in Giemsa stained smears and by inoculation into bovine lymphocyte cultures. Ticks were fully fed on calves which were monitored for developing theileriosis. H a anatolicum were found infected with parasite masses similar to those seen in experimental infections with T annulata. At one site 38 per cent of 102 ticks were infected and the mean number of parasite masses per tick for the whole sample was 37. At the other site 86 per cent of 156 ticks were similarly infected and the mean parasite masses per tick was 19.5. Suspensions of sporozoites contained sporozoites typical of those found in experimental preparations of T annulata. Sporozoites harvested from ticks from both locations infected and transformed normal bovine lymphocyte cultures. H a anatolicum ticks from both locations produced fatal theileria infection in susceptible calves.