title: Genetic diversity of benign Theileria parasites of cattle in the Okinawa Prefecture.
abstract: Benign Theileria parasites of cattle distributed in the Okinawa prefecture were characterized by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequence analysis of the major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) gene. Using universal or allele-specific primer sets, parasite DNA was amplified in 31 out of 48 blood samples obtained from beef cattle. Among the positive cases, mixed infections involving various combinations of I-, C-, and B-type parasites were detected in 24 (77.4%) samples. Phylogenetic analysis based on the MPSP gene sequences revealed that parasites with the MPSP types 1-5 and 7, exist within the Okinawa prefecture.
authors.affiliation: Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Animal Health, Naha, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zakimi
authors.forename: Jung-Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oshiro
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayashida
authors.forename: Kozo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujisaki
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000469:parasitology*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016794:Theileria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*