Genotypic diversity of Theileria orientalis detected from cattle grazing in Kumamoto and Okinawa prefectures of Japan.
Theileria orientalis is a benign protozoan species that is widely distributed in Japan, yet sometimes causes serious economic losses in the livestock industry. In this study, we conducted a molecular survey based on genes encoding the major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) and p23 for T. orientalis detected in cattle grazing in southern areas of Japan, consisting of 2 farms in Kumamoto prefecture (Aso and Kuma districts) and 3 farms in Okinawa prefecture (Ishigaki, Iriomote, and Yonaguni Islands). High prevalence rates of T. orientalis infection were shown in all the cattle populations using the diagnostic MPSP- and p23-PCR assays. Phylogenetic analyses revealed 4 MPSP genotypes and 3 p23 genotypes. Furthermore, MPSP genotype-specific PCR methods were developed in this study and wide distributions of 5-district genotypes of T. orientalis were observed for the examined farms. Our results indicate that at least 5 types of T. orientalis exist in Kumamoto and Okinawa prefectures of Japan and that genotype-specific PCR assays are highly applicable for the quarantine of transported cattle and for epidemiological surveys of bovine theileriosis in Japan.
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido. yokoyama@obihiro.ac.jp
Naoaki
N
Yokoyama
Akio
A
Ueno
Daisuke
D
Mizuno
Noritaka
N
Kuboki
Altangerel
A
Khukhuu
Ikuo
I
Igarashi
Tokuji
T
Miyahara
Takashi
T
Shiraishi
Ryuta
R
Kudo
Mamoru
M
Oshiro
Satoshi
S
Zakimi
Chihiro
C
Sugimoto
Kotaro
K
Matsumoto
Hisashi
H
Inokuma
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016794:Theileria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C115173:major piroplasm surface protein, Theileria