Journal article
Coinfection with Antigenically and Genetically Distinct Virulent Strains of Babesia bovis Is Maintained through All Phases of the Parasite Life Cycle
Infection and immunity, Vol.75(12), pp.5769-5776
12/2007
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/117207
PMCID: PMC2168326
PMID: 17893136
Abstract
Antigenic polymorphism is a defining characteristic of the
Babesia bovis
variable merozoite surface antigen (VMSA) family. Sequence analysis strongly suggests that recombination between virulent strains contributes to VMSA diversity. While meiosis during the aneuploid stage of the parasite's life cycle in the tick vector
Rhipicephalus
(
Boophilus
)
microplus
is the most probable source of interstrain recombination, there is no definitive evidence that coinfection of the mammalian host or
R. microplus
ticks with more than one virulent strain occurs. Using allele-specific real-time quantitative PCR, we tested the hypotheses that cattle could support coinfection of two antigenically variant virulent tick-transmissible strains of
B. bovis
and that
R. microplus
ticks could acquire and transmit these two divergent strains. The results indicate that both calves and ticks can support virulent
B. bovis
coinfection through all phases of the hemoparasite's life cycle. Neither strain dominated in either the mammalian or invertebrate host, and larval tick progeny, which could be coinfected individually, were also able to transmit both strains, resulting in virulent babesiosis in recipients. While coinfection of the tick vector provides the context in which allelic antigenic diversity can be generated, recombination of VMSA genes could not be confirmed, suggesting that VMSA allelic changes are slow to accumulate.
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Details
- Title
- Coinfection with Antigenically and Genetically Distinct Virulent Strains of Babesia bovis Is Maintained through All Phases of the Parasite Life Cycle
- Creators
- Shawn J Berens - Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040Kelly A Brayton - Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040Terry F McElwain - Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040
- Publication Details
- Infection and immunity, Vol.75(12), pp.5769-5776
- Academic Unit
- Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Department of; Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health
- Publisher
- American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
- Identifiers
- 99900548580201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article