Phylum : Apicomplexa
Class : Sporozoa
Sub-class: Piroplasmida
Order: Piroplasmorida
Family: Babesiidae
Genus: Babesia
Piroplasmorida
- They are often referred to as ‘Piroplasm’. They are pyriform, amoeboid, rod-like, round or pleomorphic.
- Mainly found in erythrocytes or leucocytes of vertebrates.
- No oocyst is formed and reproduction in vertebrate host is asexual with sexual reproduction occurring in invertebrate host.
- Heteroxenous with known vectors i.e. ixodid or argasid ticks.
- Reproduction by binary fission or schizogony.
- Two families are of importance : Babesiidae and Theileriidae.
Babesiidae
- Developmental stage occurs in erythrocyte of vertebrate host.
- Large, round to pyriform or amoeboid organisms.
- Family has only one genus: These are parasite of red blood cells of various mammalian host.