title: Phylogenetic relationships of Mongolian Babesia bovis isolates based on the merozoite surface antigen (MSA)-1, MSA-2b, and MSA-2c genes.
abstract: We conducted a molecular epidemiological study on Babesia bovis in Mongolia. Three hundred blood samples collected from cattle grazed in seven different districts were initially screened using a previously established diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection of B. bovis-specific DNA. Positive samples were then used to amplify and sequence the hyper-variable regions of three B. bovis genes encoding the merozoite surface antigen (MSA)-1, MSA-2b, and MSA-2c. The diagnostic PCR assay detected B. bovis among cattle populations of all districts surveyed (4.4-26.0%). Sequences of each of the three genes were highly homologous among the Mongolian isolates, and found in a single phylogenetic cluster. In particular, a separate branch was formed only by the Mongolian isolates in the MSA-2b gene-based phylogenetic tree. Our findings indicate that effective preventative and control strategies are essential to control B. bovis infection in Mongolian cattle populations, and suggest that a careful approach must be adopted when using immunization techniques.
authors: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
authors: Khukhuu
authors: K
authors: Altangerel
authors: Thillaiampalam
authors: T
authors: Sivakumar
authors: Badgar
authors: B
authors: Battsetseg
authors: Banzragch
authors: B
authors: Battur
authors: Akio
authors: A
authors: Ueno
authors: Ikuo
authors: I
authors: Igarashi
authors: Naoaki
authors: N
authors: Yokoyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016793:Babesia bovis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D008986:Mongolia; D010802:Phylogeny; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1; D015800:Protozoan Proteins