Molecular evidence of infections with Babesia gibsoni parasites in Japan and evaluation of the diagnostic potential of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification method.

ABSTRACT: Detection and analysis of Babesia gibsoni infection were performed with whole-blood samples collected between July 2002 and July 2003 from 945 and 137 dogs from the Aomori and Okinawa Prefectures of Japan, respectively, by PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). On the basis of the criterion for positivity by PCR, 3.9% (37 of 945) and 10.9% (15 of 137) of the dogs had B. gibsoni DNA. All 37 positive animals from Aomori Prefecture were male Tosa dogs (Japanese mastiff). The 15 dogs from Okinawa Prefecture with positive PCR assay results were of various breeds, ages, and sexes. The 18S ribosomal DNA (18S rDNA) sequences from all samples showed 100% homology to each other and to published B. gibsoni sequences. The limits of detection of B. gibsoni parasitemia by the PCR and LAM

SUBMITTER: Ikadai H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC427837 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature