Hematological Findings and Antibody Responses in Syrian Hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) Infected with Babesia microti

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Hematological findings during the course of infection and the antibody response in Syrian hamsters infected with Babesia microti were examined. A macrocytic hypochromic anemia with an increase of the reticulocyte count was detected as a rise in the parasitized erythrocyte rate. White blood cell counts also remarkedly increased with the increases of both neutrophils and active-shaped monocytes, and thus they particularly play an important role in eliminating the parasite. In Western blotting with the sera from the hamsters infected with B. microti, a 38 kDa protozoan antigen reacted to the early-term sera, and additionally 28, 32, and 34 kDa antigens also reacted to the medium- and latter-term, and convalescent sera. These antigens were immunodominant and the antibodies against these antigens had also important roles for inhibition of this parasite.