A Field Case of Elk Babesiosis in Korea

Elk(Alces alces)에 발생(發生)한 Babesiosis

Authors encountered a case of elk babesiosis in Daegu, Korea. The main symptoms observed before the death of the patient were elevated rectal temperature, severe degree of hemoglobinuria, icterus and recumbency. Hematologically, the erythrocyte count was 1.93 million per cu.mm 11% of which were infected with Babesia. Most(88%) of the protozoa were spherical or vacuolated ring form in shape, resembling B. bovis. However, the sizes (0.98-2.85) were slightly smaller than the latter. About 7% of the protozoa were vacuolated oval, the size of which varied from $2.06{\sim}2.95{\times}1.08{\sim}1.97$ ($2.53{\times}1.51$ in average). The remaining 5% were irregular in shape. Pear-shaped were scarcely observed. A three-gears-old Korean native cattle was inoculated subcutaneously with the elk's blood. However, no evidence of susceptibility was observed until 30 days postinoculation.