Development of Babesia ovata in the midgut of the tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis.

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Abstract
Studies were made on the development of Babesia ovata in the midgut of the nymphal tick vector, Haemaphysalis longicornis. In 12 hr post-repletion, merozoites were observed outside of erythrocytes infected with B. ovata in the contents of the midgut of the tick. After that, these merozoites were transformed into ring-forms which were comparatively large ring 2-3 .mu.m in diameter. Within 48-72 hr post-repletion, ring-form protozoa developed into spherical form 4-5 .mu.m in diameter. Within 3-4 days post-repletion, fission-forms were transformed into fission-bodies 2-3 .mu.m in diameter. Within 4-6 days post-repletion, fission-bodies developed into bizzare-forms 6-7 .mu.m in diameter. At this time, elongated form protozoa which were considered as microgametes, 6-8 .mu.m in length, are also seen. Within 6-8 days post-repletion, round-formed protozoa which were considered as zygotes in 9-10 .mu.m in diameter were observed in the gut. About 10 days after repletion, those round-formed protozoa were transformed into vermicule-formed and round-formed protozoa, 13-15 .mu.m length, appeared again in the guit epithelial cells.