Table 1.
Figure 1.
T. pestanai (Oxford isolate) in axenic culture.
Formation of rosettes as a result of incomplete separation of daughter cells observed by inverted phase contrast microscopy at different magnifications (upper panel, ×20; lower panel, ×40).
Figure 2.
Giemsa-stained smears showing different T. pestanai forms in axenic culture.
(A) Epimastigote-like long slender form. (B) Epimastigote-like swollen form. (C) Dividing epimastigote. (D) Large pear-shaped form (“degenerative” form).
Figure 3.
Comparison by PCR of 3 geographically distinct isolates of T. pestanai.
DNA extracted from different T. pestanai isolates in axenic culture (1. East Anglia isolate; 2. Oxford isolate; 3. France isolate) was analysed by PCR using primers derived from the 18S rRNA (A. TPEF1/B1 primers; B. TPEF2/B2 primers) and ITS1 sequences of T. pestanai. (C. KIN1/KIN2 primers).
Figure 4.
Western blot showing a robust IgG response of badgers against T. pestanai lysates.
(A, left) Female badger serum, PCR negative in blood. (A, right) male badger serum, PCR positive in blood. (B, left) badger serum response against East Anglia isolate. (B, right) same badger serum response against Oxford isolate. (C) Western blot in the absence of badger serum (HRP-conjugated anti-badger IgG antibody only).
Figure 5.
Wet-smear of T. pestanai detected in the flea of infected badger.
(A) Presence of live motile T. pestanai parasites in the hindgut of an infected flea observed by phase contrast microscopy (×40). (B) Detection of rosette in the hindgut of an infected flea observed by phase contrast microscopy (×100).