title: Discrimination between ovine Babesia and Theileria species in China based on the ribosomal protein S8 (RPS8) gene.
abstract: Ovine babesiosis and theileriosis are important hemoprotozoal diseases of sheep and goats in tropical and subtropical regions that lead to economic losses in these animals. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) is a reliable molecular diagnostic tool for discriminating Theileria or Babesia species in the same host. In this study, the DNA sequences of a ribosomal protein S8 (RPS8) gene from four species of piroplasms in China were used to develop a species-specific PCR-RFLP diagnostic tool. The sensitivity of the PCR assays was 0.1 pg DNA for B. motasi and 1 pg DNA for T. uilenbergi and 10 pg DNA for Babesia sp. Xinjiang-2005 and T. luwenshuni. The clear size difference of the PCR products allowed for a direct discrimination for B. motasi, Babesia sp. Xinjiang-2005 and ovine Theileria species (T. uilenbergi and T. luwenshuni), except that the mixed infection between T. uilenbergi and T. luwenshuni may be difficult to distinguish, simply after the electrophoretic separation of the amplification products. Further T. uilenbergi and T. luwenshuni diagnoses were made by digesting the PCR product with SacI. The established method could be applicable for the survey of parasite dynamics, and epidemiological studies as well as prevention and control of the disease.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping, Yanchangbu, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhancheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Guangyuan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Jianxun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Guiquan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Junren
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Jinfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xiaosong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Fangfang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Meiyuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000235:genetics*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D016794:Theileria / Q000235:genetics*; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; C030254:ribosomal protein S8
keywords: Babesia; Discrimination; Marker; Ribosomal protein S8; Sheep; Theileria