Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by protozoan hemoparasites of the genus Babesia.
These parasites infect red blood cells, causing hemolytic anemia, fever, and hemoglobinuria.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate each statement individually:
- Statement (I) is incorrect:
Babesiosis is caused by an intraerythrocytic (within red blood cells) parasite, not an extraerythrocytic parasite.
The sporozoites invade erythrocytes where they multiply as merozoites.
However, the second part of the statement is correct: it is transmitted transovarially and transstadially by ticks, such as Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in bovines.
- Statement (II) is correct:
Historically, Babesia species are classified into large or small forms based on their size relative to erythrocytes:
- In cattle, Babesia bovis is a small form (\(1.5-2.0\) \(\mu\text{m}\)), while Babesia bigemina is a large form (\(3.0-3.5\) \(\mu\text{m}\)).
- In dogs, Babesia canis is a large form (\(4.0-5.0\) \(\mu\text{m}\)), while Babesia gibsoni is a small form.
Since Statement I is incorrect and Statement II is correct, this corresponds to Option (D).
Step 3: Final Answer:
Statement (I) is incorrect but Statement (II) is correct, matching Option (D).