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Study of Theileria annulata population structure during bovine infection and following transmission to ticks

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 February 2003

M.-J. GUBBELS ,
F. KATZER ,
B. R. SHIELS  and
F. JONGEJAN
M.-J. GUBBELS
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, PO Box 80.165, 3508 TD, Utrecht, The Netherlands Current address: Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 724 Biological Sciences Building, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
F. KATZER
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, Scotland, UK
B. R. SHIELS
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, Scotland, UK
F. JONGEJAN
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, PO Box 80.165, 3508 TD, Utrecht, The Netherlands Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, South Africa
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Abstract

Tams1 is the polymorphic immunodominant merozoite-piroplasm surface protein of Theileria annulata. Evidence for selection of divergent forms of Tams1 has been obtained recently. This study was performed to address whether selection takes place during persistent infection of the bovine host or during passage through the Hyalomma tick vector. Four calves were infected with a T. annulata isolate representing multiple parasite genotypes. The development of the parasite population was analysed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) using the Tams1 gene as a marker. In addition, the parasitaemia was measured by a semi-quantitative reverse line blot hybridization assay in order to correlate Tams1 variation to changes in parasitaemia. It was found that both parasitaemia and parasite population displayed limited variation during persistent infection. Ticks were allowed to acquire T. annulata during 2 periods of the bovine infection. Tams1 alleles detected in ticks fed during acute infection were identical to the population in the bovine host. However, ticks fed during the carrier status acquired parasites showing a single Tams1 isotype that represented, in several cases, a minor population in the bovine host at the time of infestation. Although only a limited number of ticks were studied, these preliminary data suggest that specific parasite genotypes may be selected during tick transmission from a carrier animal.

Keywords

Theileria annulataTams1population structureimmune selectionDGGERLB
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 123 , Issue 6 , June 2001 , pp. 553 - 561
Copyright
© 2001 Cambridge University Press

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