title: Genotypically unique Babesia spp. isolated from reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in the United States.
abstract: Two morphologically dissimilar Babesia spp. were cultured from reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Placer County, Calif. The smaller isolate, designated RD61, was morphologically similar to Babesia odocoilei. Serum from RD61-infected reindeer reacted equally strongly to B. odocoilei and RD61 parasites in the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test. Small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene-sequence analysis showed 99.0% identity to that of B. odocoilei. The larger piroplasm, designated RD63, resembled larger babesia organisms, such as Babesia caballi and Babesia bigemina. Serum from RD63-infected reindeer also reacted with both B. odocoilei and RD61 parasites in the indirect fluorescent antibody test. The SSU rRNA gene showed 94.2% identity to that of B. bigemina. Further studies are needed to determine whether these parasites are the same as the Babesia spp. previously documented in Siberian reindeer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, The Texas Veterinary Medical Center, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-4467, USA. pholman@cvm.tamu.edu
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Holman
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Swift
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001403:Babesia / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003470:Culture Media; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005838:Genotype; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D012053:Reindeer / Q000469:parasitology*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D003470:Culture Media; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal