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.
Yokoyama
Naoaki
N
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido. yokoyama@obihiro.ac.jp
Ueno
Akio
A
Mizuno
Daisuke
D
Kuboki
Noritaka
N
Khukhuu
Altangerel
A
Igarashi
Ikuo
I
Miyahara
Tokuji
T
Shiraishi
Takashi
T
Kudo
Ryuta
R
Oshiro
Mamoru
M
Zakimi
Satoshi
S
Sugimoto
Chihiro
C
Matsumoto
Kotaro
K
Inokuma
Hisashi
H
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