The involvement of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the epidemiology of bovine Babesia bovis infection in Texas /
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| Other Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1991.
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| Online Access: | Link to OAKTrust copy |
| Abstract: | The indigenous piroplasms of white-tailed deer, Theileria cervi and Babesia odocoilei were studied as to their possible impact on Babesia bovis infection in cattle in Texas. Though T. cervi was found to be endemic to deer in south Texas, the area defined by Teclaw, et al., (1989) to be the focus of bovine babesiosis in the state, the broad distribution of T. cervi in deer throughout Texas and previous work defining its lack of infectivity for cattle (Smith, 1969) deductively eliminated it as a complicating factor. Babesia odocoilei was found to be more widespread in distribution than previously recognized but was not present in deer herds in south Texas. Further characterization of B. odocoilei showed that it was a different type of piroplasm than B. bovis, utilized a different tick vector than B. bovis and did not serologically cross react with B. bovis, though B. bovis did grow in deer erythrocytes in vitro. It was concluded that the indigenous piroplasms of white-tailed deer were not factors in bovine babesiosis in Texas. The immune response of deer to inoculation with B. odocoilei and B. bovis was investigated. The host response was not well defined for either parasite, but B. odocoilei was shown to propagate in vivo in deer while Bi bovis did not. The results of this research and serologic investigations indicated that white-tailed deer are not a reservoir of B. bovis infection in Texas. |
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| Item Description: | Typescript (photocopy). Vita. "Major subject: Veterinary Medical Science" |
| Physical Description: | xvi, 180 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |