title: Epidemiological survey of Theileria orientalis infection in grazing cattle in the eastern part of Hokkaido, Japan.
abstract: Theileria orientalis is one of the benign species of Theileria that is widely distributed in Japan and is sometimes responsible for serious economic losses in the livestock industry. In the present study, we surveyed the current status of T. orientalis infection in grazing cattle in the eastern areas of Hokkaido (Taiki, Otofuke, Shintoku, and Shin-Hidaka districts) using molecular methods, as well as traditional methods, of diagnosis. The genes encoding the major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) and p23 of T. orientalis were identified using highly detectable polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results of the MPSP-PCR assay indicated that grazing cattle in these districts, after about 1.5 months pasturage, showed high rates of infection, ranging from 10.0-64.8%. Although the main MPSP and p23 genotypes detected were the Ikeda- or Chitose-types, an MPSP gene closely relating to that found in Okinawa prefecture, and a p23 gene closely relating to the Australian (Warwick) Buffeli-type gene, were found in the cattle in Shintoku and Shin-Hidaka districts. The present survey indicated that there were at least five types of T. orientalis classified by their MPSP genes in Hokkaido, Japan, and that T. orientalis infection rates are still high in this region.
authors: Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors: Naomi
authors: N
authors: Ota
authors: Daisuke
authors: D
authors: Mizuno
authors: Noritaka
authors: N
authors: Kuboki
authors: Ikuo
authors: I
authors: Igarashi
authors: Yukio
authors: Y
authors: Nakamura
authors: Hidenari
authors: H
authors: Yamashina
authors: Teruko
authors: T
authors: Hanzaike
authors: Kei
authors: K
authors: Fujii
authors: Sadao
authors: S
authors: Onoe
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Hata
authors: Seiji
authors: S
authors: Kondo
authors: Shirou
authors: S
authors: Matsui
authors: Masao
authors: M
authors: Koga
authors: Kotaro
authors: K
authors: Matsumoto
authors: Hisashi
authors: H
authors: Inokuma
authors: Naoaki
authors: N
authors: Yokoyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D018512:Parasitemia; D010802:Phylogeny; D011159:Population Surveillance; D016794:Theileria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology