A specific DNA probe which identifies Babesia bovis in whole blood

• Main Authors: Wasana Petchpoo, Peerapan Tan-ariya, Vichai Boonsaeng, Chariya R. Brockelman, Prapon Wilairat, Sakol Panyim
• Other Authors: Srinakharinwirot University
• Format: Article
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Immunology and Microbiology; Veterinary
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/22305
• Institution: Mahidol University

A genomic library of Babesia bovis DNA from the Mexican strain M was constructed in plasmid pUN121 and cloned in Escherichia coli. Several recombinants which hybridized strongly to radioactively labeled B. bovis genomic DNA in an situ screening were selected and further analyzed for those which specifically hybridized to B. bovis DNA. It was found that pMU-B1 had the highest sensitivity, detecting 25 pg of purified B. bovis DNA, and 300 parasites in 10 μl of whole infected blood, or 0.00025% parasiteemia. pMU-B1 contained a 6.0 kb B. bovis DNA insert which did not cross-hybridize to Babesia bigemina, Trypanosoma evansi, Plasmodium falciparum, Anaplasma marginale, Boophilus microplus and cow DNA. In the Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA, pMU-B1 could differentiate between two B. bovis geographic isolates, Mexican strain M and Thai isolate TS4. Thus, the pMU-B1 probe will be useful in the diagnosis of Babesia infection in cattle and ticks, and in the differentiation of B. bovis strains. © 1992.