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Veterinary parasitology2001; 101(1); 9-21; doi: 10.1016/s0304-4017(01)00471-x

Detection of Babesia equi (Laveran, 1901) by nested polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract: We describe a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of Babesia equi in equine infected erythrocytes using oligonucleotides designed on the published sequence of a B. equi merozoite antigen gene (ema-1). A 102bp DNA fragment is specifically amplified from B. equi but not from Babesia caballi, Babesia bovis or Babesia bigemina DNA. In a mock infection we were able to detect down to six infected cells in 10(8) equine erythrocytes or to detect the parasite in blood with an equivalent parasitemia of 0.000006%. Furthermore, gene polymorphism was found by performing a PCR-RFLP (PCR combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism) on both the 102bp and the entire ema-1 gene DNA amplified from two B. equi isolates, Florida (USA) and Pelotas (Southern Brazil) isolates. The polymorphism was confirmed by sequencing the entire ema-1 gene from the B. equi isolate Pelotas. Our results demonstrate that the ema-1 based nested PCR is a valuable technique for routine detection of B. equi in chronically infected horses. It may be used for epidemiological and phylogenetic studies of the parasite as well as monitoring B. equi infected horses in chemotherapeutic trials.
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Publication Date: 2001-10-06 PubMed ID: 11587829DOI: 10.1016/s0304-4017(01)00471-xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research involves the use of a specific type of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the presence of a parasite, Babesia equi, in horse blood cells. This technique allows for the detection of very small amounts of the parasite and helps identify variations in the parasite’s genetic makeup.

Methodology

  • The researchers use a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a sensitive technique that allows for the detection and amplification of a specific DNA sequence.
  • The PCR was specifically designed to amplify a 102bp DNA fragment of the Babesia equi parasite, based on the sequence of a known merozoite antigen gene (ema-1).
  • To test the specificity of the PCR, researchers tried to amplify DNA from other parasites including Babesia caballi, Babesia bovis, and Babesia bigemina which didn’t provide positive results, confirming the specificity for B. equi.

Testing

  • The technique’s sensitivity was tested in a mock infection, where the researchers found that only six infected cells in a sample of 10^8 equine blood cells were needed for reliable detection of the parasite.
  • This corresponds to a parasitemia (parasite infection in the blood) level of only 0.000006%, indicating the impressive sensitivity of this method.

Genetic Variations

  • In addition to detecting the presence of the parasite, the researchers also found genetic variation in the B. equi samples they tested.
  • They did this by using another technique, PCR-RFLP (PCR combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism), which allows for the identification of variations in the DNA sequences of the 102bp fragment and the entire ema-1 gene.
  • This genetic variation was confirmed by sequencing the entire ema-1 gene from one of the B. equi isolates.

Practical Applications

  • Based on the ability to sensitively and specifically detect B. equi, along with the ability to identify genetic variations, the researchers suggest that this nested PCR technique is valuable for routine detection of this parasite in horses, especially those chronically infected.
  • Further, it also has potential uses in epidemiological and phylogenetic studies, to track the spread and evolution of the parasite, and in monitoring the effect of chemotherapeutic trial treatments on horses infected with B. equi.

Cite This Article

APA
Nicolaiewsky TB, Richter MF, Lunge VR, Cunha CW, Delagostin O, Ikuta N, Fonseca AS, da Silva SS, Ozaki LS. (2001). Detection of Babesia equi (Laveran, 1901) by nested polymerase chain reaction. Vet Parasitol, 101(1), 9-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0304-4017(01)00471-x

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 0304-4017
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 101
Issue: 1
Pages: 9-21

Researcher Affiliations

Nicolaiewsky, T B
  • Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Richter, M F
    Lunge, V R
      Cunha, C W
        Delagostin, O
          Ikuta, N
            Fonseca, A S
              da Silva, S S
                Ozaki, L S

                  MeSH Terms

                  • Amino Acid Sequence
                  • Animals
                  • Antigens, Protozoan
                  • Babesia / genetics
                  • Babesia / isolation & purification
                  • Babesiosis / diagnosis
                  • Babesiosis / veterinary
                  • Base Sequence
                  • Chronic Disease
                  • DNA, Protozoan / analysis
                  • Erythrocytes / parasitology
                  • Gene Amplification
                  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
                  • Horses
                  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
                  • Molecular Sequence Data
                  • Molecular Weight
                  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
                  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
                  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
                  • Restriction Mapping / veterinary
                  • Sensitivity and Specificity
                  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / veterinary

                  Citations

                  This article has been cited 20 times.
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