Genetic characterization of Theileria orientalis from cattle in the Republic of Korea.
Theileria orientalis is the causative agent of benign theileriosis, which is distributed mainly in Asian countries, and causes serious economic losses in the livestock industry. The present study was performed to investigate the epidemiology of T. orientalis infections in cattle in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and to characterize the genetic diversity of T. orientalis based on the major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) genes. In 2015, between July and August, blood samples were collected from 138 asymptomatic cattle in four different geographical regions (Hoengseong, Jeongeup, Namwon, and Jeju island) in the ROK. In total, 57 blood samples (41.3 %, 57/138) were positive for T. orientalis based on PCR amplification of the MPSP gene. A high prevalence of T. orientalis infection was observed in Jeju island, whereas the infection rate was relatively low in Jeongeup. Phylogenetic analysis showed that isolates identified in this study belonged to four MPSP genotypes, specifically types 1, 2, 3, and 7. The distribution of the four genotypes varied considerably among the four regions; types 1, 2, and 3 were detected in Jeju island, whereas types 1 and 7 were found in Namwon, types 1 and 2 in Jeongeup, and type 2 in Hoengseong. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the identification of type 7 T. orientalis in cattle in the ROK. These results suggest that the MPSP genotypes detected in this study showed genetic diversity related to geographical location. Our findings revealed that the T. orientalis infection rate was relatively high, indicating that T. orientalis infection is closely associated with grazing. Of the four MPSP genotypes, the prevalence of the most pathogenic type 2 was relatively high in the ROK. Therefore, further studies should focus on the development of an effective monitoring and prevention program for T. orientalis.
College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Iksan, 54596, Republic of Korea.
Jinho
J
Park
College of Ecology and Environmental Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, 37224, Republic of Korea.
Yu-Jung
YJ
Han
College of Ecology and Environmental Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, 37224, Republic of Korea.
Du-Gyeong
DG
Han
Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, Research Institute for Veterinary Science and College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
Jeong-Byoung
JB
Chae
Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, Research Institute for Veterinary Science and College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
Joon-Seok
JS
Chae
College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea.
Do-Hyeon
DH
Yu
College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Iksan, 54596, Republic of Korea.
Young-Sung
YS
Lee
College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea.
Bae-Keun
BK
Park
College of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea.
Hyeon-Cheol
HC
Kim
College of Ecology and Environmental Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, 37224, Republic of Korea. kschoi3@knu.ac.kr.
Kyoung-Seong
KS
Choi
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D002417:Cattle; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016794:Theileria / Q000235:genetics*; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan
Cattle; Genetic variation; Major piroplasm surface protein; Theileria orientalis