Antigenic diversity of Theileria major piroplasm surface protein gene in Jeju black cattle.
Piroplasms are tick-transmitted, intracellular, hemoprotozoan parasites that cause anorexia, fever, anemia, and icterus. Theileriosis is caused by Theileria sergenti and causes major economic losses in grazing cattle in Japan and Korea. In May 2003, we examined the antigenic diversity of the major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) gene in 35 healthy Jeju black cattle that were born and raised at the National Institute of Subtropical Agriculture. On microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears, 9 of 35 cattle had intra-erythrocytic piroplasms. Hematological data were within normal range for all 35 cattle. Amplification of DNA from all blood samples using universal MPSP gene primers showed mixed infections with C, I, and B type Theileria spp. Type C was identified in 20 of 35 blood samples, and type B was identified in 17 samples. Allelic variation was seen in type B.
Ko
Myung-Soon
MS
College of Veterinary Medicine, Cheju National University, Jeju 690-756, Korea.
Lee
Kyoung-Kap
KK
Hwang
Kyu-Kye
KK
Kim
Byung-Sun
BS
Choi
Gui-Cheol
GC
Yun
Young-Min
YM
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002417:Cattle; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007723:Korea; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016794:Theileria / Q000235:genetics*; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000469:parasitology*
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D017931:DNA Primers; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C115173:major piroplasm surface protein, Theileria