Genetic Analysis of Babesia Isolates from Cattle with Clinical Babesiosis in Sri Lanka.

Abstract

Bovine babesiosis is a serious threat to the cattle industry. We prepared blood DNA samples from 13 cattle with clinical babesiosis from the Badulla (n = 8), Jaffna (n = 3), and Kilinochchi (n = 2) districts in Sri Lanka. These DNA samples tested positive in PCR assays specific for Babesiabovis (n = 9), Babesia bigemina (n = 9), and Babesiaovata (n = 1). Twelve cattle were positive for B. bovis and/or B. bigemina One cow was negative for the tested Babesia species but was positive for Babesia on microscopic examination; the phylogenetic positions of 18S rRNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit III gene sequences suggested that the cow was infected with Babesia sp. Mymensingh, which was recently reported from a healthy cow in Bangladesh. We then developed a novel Babesia sp. Mymensingh-specific PCR assay and obtained positive results for one other sample. Analysis of gene sequences from the cow with positive B. ovata-specific PCR results demonstrated that the animal was infected not with B. ovata but with Babesia sp. Hue-1, which was recently reported from asymptomatic cattle in Vietnam. The virulence of Babesia sp. Hue-1 is unclear, as the cow was coinfected with B. bovis and B. bigemina However, Babesia sp. Mymensingh probably causes severe clinical babesiosis, as it was the sole Babesia species detected in a clinical case. The present study revealed the presence of two bovine Babesia species not previously reported in Sri Lanka, plus the first case of severe bovine babesiosis caused by a Babesia species other than B. bovis, B. bigemina, and Babesiadivergens.

• Authors: Thillaiampalam Sivakumar, Bumduuren Tuvshintulga, Atambekova Zhyldyz, Hemal Kothalawala, Palitha Rohana Yapa, Ratnam Kanagaratnam, Singarayar Caniciyas Vimalakumar, Thuduwege Sanath Abeysekera, Amitha Sampath Weerasingha, Junya Yamagishi, Ikuo Igarashi, Seekkuge Susil Priyantha Silva, Naoaki Yokoyama
• Journal: Journal of clinical microbiology (J Clin Microbiol) Vol. 56 Issue 11 (11 2018) ISSN: 1098-660X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 30158190 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.

Chemical References

• DNA, Protozoan
• Protozoan Proteins
• RNA, Ribosomal, 18S

Topics

• Animals
• Babesia (classification, cytology, genetics, isolation & purification)
• Babesia bovis (genetics, isolation & purification)
• Babesiosis (epidemiology, microbiology, pathology, physiopathology)
• Cattle
• Cattle Diseases (microbiology, pathology, physiopathology)
• DNA, Protozoan (genetics)
• Female
• Phylogeny
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (veterinary)
• Protozoan Proteins (genetics)
• RNA, Ribosomal, 18S (genetics)
• Sequence Analysis, DNA (veterinary)
• Sri Lanka (epidemiology)