title: Molecular detection and genetic diversity of Babesia gibsoni in dogs in Bangladesh.
abstract: Babesia gibsoni is a tick-borne hemoprotozoan parasite of dogs that often causes fever and hemolytic illness. Detection of B. gibsoni has been predominantly reported in Asian countries, including Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Bangladesh and India. The present study shows the first molecular characterization of B. gibsoni detected from dogs in Bangladesh. Blood samples were collected on FTA® Elute cards from 50 stray dogs in Mymensingh District in Bangladesh. DNA eluted from the cards was subjected to nested PCR for the 18S rRNA gene of Babesia species. Approximately 800bp PCR products were detected in 15 of 50 dogs (30%). Based on restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and direct sequencing of the PCR products, all parasite isolates were identified as B. gibsoni. Furthermore, the BgTRAP (B. gibsoni thrombospondin-related adhesive protein) gene fragments were detected in 13 of 15 18S rRNA gene PCR positive blood samples. Phylogenetic analysis of the BgTRAP gene revealed that B. gibsoni parasites in Bangladesh formed a cluster, which was genetically different from other Asian B. gibsoni isolates. In addition, tandem repeat analysis of the BgTRAP gene clearly showed considerable genetic variation among Bangladeshi isolates. These results suggested that B. gibsoni parasites in a different genetic clade are endemic in dogs in Bangladesh. Further studies are required to elucidate the origin, distribution, vector and pathogenesis of B. gibsoni parasites circulating in dogs in Bangladesh.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terao
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Shirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akter
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Golam
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Yasin
authors.affiliation: Unit of Risk Analysis and Management, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirotomo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mohammad Zahangir
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. Electronic address: kenkata@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katakura
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005843:Geography; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015995:Prevalence; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences
chemical_list: D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S
keywords: Babesia gibsoni; Bangladesh; Genetic variation; Stray dogs; Tandem repeats; Thrombospondin-related adhesive protein gene (TRAP)