Theileria buffeli

• Small piroplasm bodies in red blood cells
• The parasites are variable in shape - most are rod shaped, but round, oval and comma shapes also occur
• It is not uncommon for several parasites to occur within the one erythrocyte
• This species of Theileria is common in cattle in coastal northern Australia, and can produce clinical disease
• Exotic species of this genus are responsible for major ruminant diseases