Identification and phylogenetic analysis of Japanese Macaque Babesia-1 (JM-1) detected from a Japanese Macaque (Macaca fuscata fuscata)

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 85; no. 4; pp. 635 - 638
• Main Authors: Hirata, Haruyuki, Kawai, Satoru, Maeda, Mari, Jinnai, Michio, Fujisawa, Kohei, Katakai, Yuko, Hikosaka, Kenji, Tanabe, Kazuyuki, Yasutomi, Yasuhiro, Ishihara, Chiaki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 01.10.2011
• Subjects: Animals; Babesia microti; Babesia microti - genetics; Babesia microti - isolation & purification; Base Sequence; DNA Primers; Female; Macaca; Macaca fuscata fuscata; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Short Report; Splenectomy; Japan
• ISSN: 0002-9637; 1476-1645
• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.11-0035

We demonstrate here the identification and phylogenetic characterization of Babesia microti (B. microti)-like parasite detected from a splenectomized Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata fuscata) at a facility for laboratory animal science. On Day 133 after splenectomy, intra-erythrocytic parasites were found on light microscopic examination, and the level of parasitemia reached 0.3% on blood smear. Molecular characterization of the parasite using nested-polymerization chain reactions targeting the 18S rRNA, β-tubulin, and subunit 7 (eta) of the chaperonin-containing t-complex polypeptide 1 (CCT7) genes were identified as a B. microti-like parasite, designated the Japanese Macaque Babesia-1 (JM-1).