This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Oosthuizen, M. C.
Right arrow Articles by Penzhorn, B. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Oosthuizen, M. C.
Right arrow Articles by Penzhorn, B. L.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, July 2008, p. 2247-2251, Vol. 46, No. 7
0095-1137/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.00167-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Identification of a Novel Babesia sp. from a Sable Antelope (Hippotragus niger Harris, 1838){triangledown}

Marinda C. Oosthuizen,1* Erich Zweygarth,2 Nicola E. Collins,1 Milana Troskie,1 and Banie L. Penzhorn1

Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa,1 Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa2

Received 28 January 2008/ Returned for modification 27 March 2008/ Accepted 12 May 2008

Babesiosis in a sable antelope (Hippotragus niger Harris, 1838) was first reported in 1930; the parasite was named Babesia irvinesmithi. Recently, specimens from an adult sable that presented with a sudden onset of disease and that subsequently died during immobilization were submitted for molecular characterization. Microscopic examination of thin blood smears revealed the presence of small piroplasms. DNA was extracted from blood samples; the V4 variable region of the 18S rRNA gene was amplified and analyzed using the reverse line blot (RLB) assay. Amplicons did not hybridize with any of the Babesia or Theileria species-specific probes present on the blot and hybridized only with a Babesia or Theileria genus-specific probe, suggesting the presence of a novel species. The full-length 18S rRNA gene sequence was obtained and aligned with published sequences of related genera, and phylogenetic trees were constructed. Sequence similarity analyses indicated that a Babesia species, designated Babesia sp. (sable), was present. The sequence showed its highest similarity to B. orientalis and to an unnamed Babesia species previously detected in bovine samples. The latter was later established to be Babesia occultans. A Babesia sp. (sable)-specific RLB oligonucleotide probe was designed and used to screen 200 South African sable samples, but so far, no other sample has been found to be positive for the presence of Babesia sp. (sable) DNA. In summary, we identified a novel piroplasm parasite from a sable antelope that died from an unknown illness. While the parasite was observed in blood smears, there is no direct evidence that it was the cause of death.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa. Phone: (27 12) 5298390. Fax: (27 12) 5298312. E-mail: marinda.oosthuizen{at}up.ac.za

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 28 May 2008.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, July 2008, p. 2247-2251, Vol. 46, No. 7
0095-1137/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.00167-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»