Babesia

<em>Babesia</em>Babesia organisms inside blood cells.

Babesia, genus of parasitic protozoans of the sporozoan subclass Coccidia. Babesia species are parasites of vertebrate blood cells. Transmitted by ticks, the species B. bigemina is responsible for tick fever of cattle. B. canis causes the sometimes fatal malignant jaundice (dog piroplasmosis).

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
Citation Information
Article Title: Babesia
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 19 September 2016
Access Date: February 22, 2025