Theileria parva sporozoites rapidly enter bovine lymphocytes. Since lymphocytes are normally nonphagocytes sporozoite binding to the host cell surface must initiate events in the host cell, leading to the internalization of the parasite. In the present study inhibitors of various key molecules in cell signal transduction and activation pathways, in combination with a method of quantitation, have been used to examine the possible role(s) of these systems in sporozoite entry. A variety of protein kinase inhibitors caused significant inhibition of sporozoite entry. Moreover, protein kinase activities in both the sporozoite and the host cell were essential to sporozoite invasion. Down-regulation of lymphocyte protein kinase C and inhibitors of phospholipase C but not phospholipase A2 activity also blocked sporozoite entry. Parasite entry could also be blocked by inhibitors of G protein activity. Treatment of sporozoites with AIF(3-5) blocked parasite binding while treatment of host cells inhibited sporozoite internalization. Furthermore, sporozoite entry was dependent on a cholera toxin-inhibitable process(es), whereas mastroparan and pertussis toxin had no significant inhibitory effects. Collectively these results provide initial evidence for both parasite protein kinase- and G protein-dependent processes as well as the participation of a variety of host cell signal transduction pathways in the sporozoite entry process.