title: The molecular prevalence and MSA-2b gene-based genetic diversity of Babesia bovis in dairy cattle in Thailand.
abstract: Bovine babesiosis is an economically significant disease that affects dairy farming operations in Thailand. In the present study, 1824 blood-DNA samples prepared from cattle bred in 4 different regions of the country (North, Northeast, Central, and South) were screened using a nested PCR for the specific detection of Babesia bovis. While the overall prevalence of B. bovis was 8.8%, the Central region of Thailand was found to be a high-risk area of the country, as the prevalence of the parasite was 15.0%. The positive rate was relatively higher among the animals of 1-5 years of age. The genetic diversity among the B. bovis parasites was also studied based on their MSA-2b gene, and the findings showed that the Thai sequences were dispersed across 8 of 13 total clades observed in the phylogram. Three of these clades were formed only of Thai sequences. Similarity among the deduced MSA-2b amino acid sequences determined in the present study was 68.3-100%. In conclusion, the present study found that all the locations surveyed were infected with B. bovis and that the parasite populations in Thailand were genetically diverse. Our findings highlight the need for further studies in Thailand to generate more information before a sound control strategy could be implemented against B. bovis.
authors: Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology (AG-BIO/PERDO-CHE), Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Center for Advanced Studies for Agriculture and Food, Kasetsart University Institute for Advanced Studies, Kasetsart University (CASAF, NRU-KU, Thailand), Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
authors: Pacharathon
authors: P
authors: Simking
authors: Sinsamuth
authors: S
authors: Saengow
authors: Kunan
authors: K
authors: Bangphoomi
authors: Nachai
authors: N
authors: Sarataphan
authors: Sirichai
authors: S
authors: Wongnarkpet
authors: Tawin
authors: T
authors: Inpankaew
authors: Sathaporn
authors: S
authors: Jittapalapong
authors: Tserendorj
authors: T
authors: Munkhjargal
authors: Thillaiampalam
authors: T
authors: Sivakumar
authors: Naoaki
authors: N
authors: Yokoyama
authors: Ikuo
authors: I
authors: Igarashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016793:Babesia bovis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D003612:Dairying; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; C476548:MSA-2 protein, Babesia bovis; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins
keywords: Babesia bovis; Cattle; Epidemiology; MSA-2b; Thailand