pathogens Article Experimental Infection of Calves with Transfected Attenuated Babesia bovis Expressing the Rhipicephalus microplus Bm86 Antigen and eGFP Marker: Preliminary Studies towards a Dual Anti-Tick/Babesia Vaccine Monica L. Mazuz 1,*,†, Jacob M. Laughery 2,†, Benjamin Lebovitz 1, Daniel Yasur-Landau 1, Assael Rot 1, Reginaldo G. Bastos 2, Nir Edery 3, Ludmila Fleiderovitz 1, Maayan Margalit Levi 1 and Carlos E. Suarez 2,4,* 1 Division of Parasitology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, P.O.B. 12, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel;
[email protected] (B.L.);
[email protected] (D.Y.-L.);
[email protected] (A.R.);
[email protected] (L.F.);
[email protected] (M.M.L.) 2 Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USA;
[email protected] (J.M.L.);
[email protected] (R.G.B.) 3 Division of Pathology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, P.O.B. 12, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel;
[email protected] 4 Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, WSU, Pullman, WA 99164-6630, USA * Correspondence:
[email protected] (M.L.M.);
[email protected] (C.E.S.); Tel.: +972-3-968-1690 (M.L.M.); Tel.: +1-509-335-6341 (C.E.S.) † These authors contribute equally to this work. Citation: Mazuz, M.L.; Laughery, Abstract: Bovine babesiosis, caused by Babesia bovis and B. bigemina, is a major tick-borne disease of J.M.; Lebovitz, B.; Yasur-Landau, D.; cattle with global economic impact. The disease can be prevented using integrated control measures Rot, A.; Bastos, R.G.; Edery, N.; including attenuated Babesia vaccines, babesicidal drugs, and tick control approaches.