Molecular characterization of theileria parasites. Application to the epidemiology of theileriosis in Zimbabwe

Parasitology;109: 573-581

FortyTheileriaschizont-infected lymphocyte culture isolates from Zimbabwe were characterized using a panel of antischizont monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and 4Theileria parvaDNA probes containing cloned extrachromosomal element,Tprrepetitive, ribosomal and telomeric sequences. TheTheileriaisolates were assigned asT. parvaorT. taurotragion the basis of reactivities with MAbs and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) detected using the extra chromosomal element probe. Cattle-derivedT. parvaisolates were relatively homogeneous on the basis of reactivities with MAbs and RFLPs detected usingTprrepetitive and ribosomal DNA probes. In contrast to previous results from Kenya, most of the cattle-derived isolates from Zimbabwe exhibited very similarTprrestriction fragment patterns, although theTprgenotypes of buffalo-derived isolates were heterogeneous. This suggests that selection for a particularTprgenotype may be occurring in cattle. Many isolates with similarTprgenotypes were differentiated by RFLPs detected using the telomeric DNA probe. TheT. parvaBoleni immunizing stock was distinguished from all other isolates by telomeric RFLPs. TheT. parvaBoleniTprrepetitive DNA probe cross-hybridized withT. taurotragiDNA and detected RFLPs between differentT. taurotragiisolates.