Hepatozoon balfouri (Laveran, 1905): Sporogonic Cycle, Pathogenesis, and Transmission by Mites to Jerboa Hosts

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Abstract
Hepatozoon balfouri (Laveran. 1905) developed successfully in two species of laboratory-reared mites, Haemolaelaps longipes Bregetova, 1952 (= H. aegyptius Keegan, 1956) and Haemolaelaps centrocarpus Berlese, 1911. Early as well as late sporogonic stages were recognized in mites of both species and sexes. The preinfective period in mites held at 80 to approximately 90 F was between 18 and 21 days. Heavy infections with H. balfouri were pathogenic, often terminating fatally, for both species of mites. Frequency and intensity of infection after ingesting infective blood was greater in H. longipes than in H. centrocarpus. Transmission of H. balfouri to Jaculus j. jaculus (Linnaeus, 1758) was accomplished by ingestion of mites of either species containing mature sporocysts. The pre-patent period in the jerboa was 14 to 18 days. As little as one infective mite induced a fulminating fatal infection in Jaculus j. jaculus. Acute infections in jerboas were characterized by tremendous destruction of hepatic parenchyma accompanied by a focal, disseminated hepatitis. Hyperplasia of the spleen was evident. Mites heavily infected with mature sporocysts of H. balfouri failed to produce infection when fed to Rattus rattus (Linnaeus. 1758), Allactaga tetradactyla (Lichtenstein. 1823), and Meriones crassus perpallidus Setzer, 1961.