Dados do Trabalho

Título

Development and application of a multiplex TaqMan® RT-qPCR assay for the simultaneous detection of Anaplasma marginale and Theileria annulata and molecular characterization of Anaplasma marginale from cattle in Western Cuba

Introdução

Anaplasmosis and theileriosis are considered the most important tick-borne diseases for livestock production worldwide, causing significant economic losses in tropical and subtropical regions.

Objetivo (s)

The present study was aimed to develop a multiplex TaqMan® qPCR (MRT-qPCR) assay to simultaneously detect Anaplasma marginale and Theileria annulata and to applied it to investigate naturally infected cattle in Cuba.

Material e Métodos

The assay was highly specific, sensible, and efficient; it was more sensitive than a well-established nested PCR and detected 1 DNA copy of each target. Consistent repeatability and reproducibility within and between MRT-qPCR runs was shown. A total of 223 blood samples collected in western Cuba were analyzed for haemoparasites infection in cattle.

Resultados e Conclusão

The MRT-qPCR assay detected A. marginale in 213 samples (95.5%; CI: 95%; 91.9%–97.5%), but all samples were negative for T. annulata. Additionally, the genetic diversity of A. marginale was assessed using 16S rRNA, MSP1a and MSP4 nucleotide and protein sequences. The MSP1a tandem repeats ranged from three to five, and twelve different MSP1a tandem repeats of A. marginale were found, which presented genotypes C, E, and G in the 5ʹUTR microsatellite region. Phylogenetic analysis using the msp4 gene showed that Cuban strains were closely related to others previously reported in Mexican, Brazilian and Asian. The MRT-qPCR described here proved to be a rapid, specific and cost-effective mean for the simultaneous detection of A. marginale and T. annulata in cattle blood. Further epidemiological studies using this assay will improve the surveillance of the associated diseases in regions where they are endemic.

Palavras-chave

Multiplex TaqMan® qPCR (MRT-qPCR), Cattle, Theileria annulata, Anaplasma marginale, MSP1a, MSP4