title: Prevalence and molecular characterizations of Toxoplasma gondii and Babesia microti from small mammals captured in Gyeonggi and Gangwon Provinces, Republic of Korea.
abstract: A survey was conducted to determine the distribution and prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Babesia microti infections in small mammals captured in Gyeonggi and Gangwon Provinces, Republic of Korea (ROK). The serological prevalence of T. gondii (ELISA) and B. microti (IFAT) was 2.3% (15/667) and 2.1% (14/667), respectively. DNA extracts from small mammal heart tissues were screened by PCR for T. gondii and B. microti targeting regions of the GRA5 gene and the 18S rRNA and β-tubulin genes, respectively. Only 0.17% (1/578) of Apodemus agrarius was positive of T. gondii by PCR, while 0.52% (3/578) was positive of B. microti. All other small mammal species [Micromys minutus (16), Mus musculus (3), Myodes regulus (22), Microtus fortis (6), and Crocidura lasiura (42)] were negative for both T. gondii and B. microti. Based on sequence polymorphism and phylogenetic analysis, T. gondii closely aligned with Type I, a highly virulent strain, while B. microti positive samples closely aligned with US-type B. microti and others observed in the ROK, Russia, and Japan. These results indicate that A. agrarius is a reservoir for both T. gondii and B. microti in the ROK.
authors.affiliation: Division of Malaria & Parasite Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-up, Cheongwon-gun, Chungbuk Province 363-951, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Division of Malaria & Parasite Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-up, Cheongwon-gun, Chungbuk Province 363-951, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Malaria & Parasite Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-up, Cheongwon-gun, Chungbuk Province 363-951, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: 5th Medical Detachment, 168th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15247, APO AP 96205-5247, USA.
authors.forename: Heung-Chul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 5th Medical Detachment, 168th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15247, APO AP 96205-5247, USA.
authors.forename: Sung-Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.affiliation: Public Health Command Region-Pacific, Camp Zama, Japan, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, APO AP 96205-5281, USA.
authors.forename: Terry A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 136-705, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 136-705, Republic of Korea; Pacific Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 651 Ilalo Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA.
authors.forename: Se Hun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Division of Malaria & Parasite Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-up, Cheongwon-gun, Chungbuk Province 363-951, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Shin-Hyeong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Division of Malaria & Parasite Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Osong-up, Cheongwon-gun, Chungbuk Province 363-951, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: leewonja@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Won-Ja
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D003411:Arvicolinae; D041001:Babesia microti / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D009115:Muridae; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012788:Shrews; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; C095046:GRA5 protein, Toxoplasma gondii; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D014404:Tubulin
keywords: Apodemus agrarius; Babesia microti; Republic of Korea; Toxoplsama gondii