Novel genotype of Tritrichomonas foetus from cattle in Southern Africa.
Bovine trichomonosis caused by Tritrichomonas foetus is a significant reproductive disease of cattle. Preputial samples were collected using sheath washing technique in bulls in Namibia. Thirty-six trichomonad cultures were characterized using the TaqMan-probe commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic assay (VetMAX™-Gold Trich Detection Kit) and CYBR real-time PCR assay based on TFR3/4 primers. Diagnostic real-time PCRs and DNA sequencing of the internal transcribed region confirmed presence of T. foetus in 35 out of 36 samples. Multilocus genotyping using cysteine proteases (CP1, CP2, CP4, CP5, CP6, CP7, CP8, CP9) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH1) gene sequences demonstrate that the T. foetus in Namibia are genetically distinct from those characterized elsewhere. We report the discovery of a novel genotype of T. foetus in Namibian cattle, distinct from other T. foetus genotypes in Europe, South and North America and Australia. We suggest recognition of a 'Southern African' genotype of T. foetus. Identification of the new genotype of T. foetus demonstrates the need for wider global sampling to fully understand the diversity and origin of T. foetus causing disease in cattle or cats.
School of Life and Environmental Sciences,Faculty of Veterinary Science,The University of Sydney,McMaster Building B14,New South Wales 2006,Australia.
Andrea
A
Casteriano
Central Veterinary Laboratory,24 Goethe Street,Windhoek,Namibia.
Umberto
U
Molini
Central Veterinary Laboratory,24 Goethe Street,Windhoek,Namibia.
Kornelia
K
Kandjumbwa
Central Veterinary Laboratory,24 Goethe Street,Windhoek,Namibia.
Siegfried
S
Khaiseb
Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty,Institute of Parasitology,University of Bern,Länggassstrasse 122,3012 Bern,Switzerland.
Caroline F
CF
Frey
School of Life and Environmental Sciences,Faculty of Veterinary Science,The University of Sydney,McMaster Building B14,New South Wales 2006,Australia.
Jan
0000-0003-1459-9117
J
Šlapeta
D000353:Africa, Southern / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D002415:Cats; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D057056:Cysteine Proteases / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005838:Genotype; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D009276:Namibia / Q000453:epidemiology; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016835:Tritrichomonas foetus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase; D057056:Cysteine Proteases

               Tritrichomonas foetus
            ; PCR; Southern Africa; cattle; multilocus genotyping