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[Babesia divergens] [Babesia microti] [Babesia duncani]

Babesia spp. are transmitted by ticks, primarily of the genus Ixodes.  In Europe, the primary vector for babesiosis is I. ricinus; in North America it is I. scapularis.  Adults of Ixodes spp. are characterized by having mouthparts longer than the basis capituli, a lack of festoons, an inornate dorsal shield without eyes, and an inverted, U-shaped anal groove.

A

A: Larva (A), nymph (B), adult male (C), adult female (D), and engorged female with eggs (E) of Ixodes scapularis.  Image courtesy of James Occi.

B	C

B: Close-up of the head of a nymph of Ixodes.  Notice the palps (PA) and hypostome (HY) are long, in comparison to the basis capituli (BC).  Image courtesy of the Washington State Public Health Laboratories.
C: Ventral view of the specimen in Figure B.  Notice the inverted, U-shaped anal groove (AG).  Also shown is one of the spiracular plates (SP).