Culture confirmation of the carrier status of Babesia caballi-infected horses

Abstract

Culture of horse blood for Babesia caballi identified four carrier horses among nine previously infected horses. Three of the carriers had no detectable parasitemias on stained blood smears, and sera from two carrier horses were complement fixation test negative. Three cultures were continuously cultivated. Cryopreserved fourth-passage B. caballi was successfully reestablished in vitro. Blood from a 10th horse previously subinoculated with blood from a suspected carrier was cultured, with negative results.