Life cycle of Babesia spp.

I.H.
Vertebrate
Kinete migrates to the
salivary glands, developing
into infective sporozoites
Infe
ctio

Transstadial transmission:
nd

larvae, nymphs, adults

urin
g tic
k fe
edin
g
transmission
Transovarial

Sporozoite
penetrates
the host’s red
blood cells
ays
4d
7–1

Kinete
Tick

Gamont Zygote
inges

Multiply, rupture
and infect other red
ts inf

Reproduction in tick gut cells blood cells

ected
blood

Tick species varies depending

upon Babesia species
D.H. D.H. = definitive host
Hard tick
I.H. = intermediate host

Extracted from the Textbook of Clinical Parasitology in dogs and cats, Beugnet F., Halos L., Guillot J., Ed Servet, 2018.
Life cycles adapted from Pet Owner Educational Atlas. Parasites, Carithers D. and Miro G., Ed Servet, 2012.