Live Attenuated Vaccine for the Control of Bovine Babesiosis in México: A Review

Abstract

Bovine babesiosis is a hemoparasitic infection caused by intra-erythrocytic Babesia protozoa. It is mostly spread by Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks and results in a hemolytic disease that is devastating to cattle and has a significant economic impact, especially in tropical and subtropical regions of the world where the tick vector is endemic. The best method to date for preventing or controlling bovine babesiosis is immunisation with parasites obtained from in vitro cultures. It has been demonstrated that once the vaccine parasites are established in the animals, the induced immune response is protective, capable of responding to natural challenges with high virulence parasites in the field. This technology also improves the ability to control potential pathogen contamination. Therefore, it seems sense to advise the vaccination of susceptible animals that might be transported to endemic regions. The objective of this article is to outline some of the basic studies that support the possibility of favoring the mass production, of a live attenuated vaccine derived from the in vitro culture for the prevention of bovine babesiosis in México.