Divergence of p33/34 Gene of Theileria Found in Cervus nippon in Japan

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The 18S rRNA gene and the piroplasm major immunodominant protein gene (p33/34) of Theileria from various subspecies of sika deer in 8 different locations of Japan were analyzed. The similarity between 633 bp partial sequences of the 18S rRNA gene among various subspecies of sika deer was found to be between 99.7% and 100%. While the percent identities of the 412 bp partial p33/34 gene sequence and deduced amino acid sequences between Theileria of sika deer from Yamaguchi Prefecture and those found in deer from other Prefectures, were comparatively low, 68.7% to 70.1% and 64.1% to 70.0% respectively. These findings suggest that there are at least two genetically distinct strains of Theileria of sika deer in Japan. KEY WORDS: Cervus nippon, divergence, Theileria sp.

Occurrence of Two Distinct Theileria Lineages in Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) of Iwate Prefecture, Japan

“…The amplicons were considered to be DNA of Theileria species because the sequences of 25 amplicons selected at random were the most homologous to those of Theileria spp. DNA sequences (1,701 Inokuma et al [6,7] reported that there were at least two genetically distinct lineages of Theileria in sika deer in Japan, which were represented by Clade 1 and Clade 2 in the present study, and that the lineage of Clade 1 was detected only in sika deer of Yamaguchi Prefecture, and that Clade 2 was widely found in sika deer of Hokkaido, Saitama, Tottori, Hiroshima, Fukuoka and Miyazaki Prefectures, and Tsushima islands. Results of the present study showed that there were Theileria lineages belonging to both clades in sika deer of Iwate Prefecture, and that detection rate (88%: 22/25) of Clade 2 was conspicuously higher than that (12%: 3/25) of Clade 1.…”

“…Bessyo and Nakamura [1] found Theileria protozoa in the blood smears of Japanese sika deer in Kyoto, Japan. Inokuma et al [6,7] detected two genetically distinct Theileria DNA from Japanese sika deer in Yamaguchi, Hokkaido, Saitama, Tottori, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, and Miyazaki Prefectures, Japan and suggested that the lineages possibly differed in geographical distribution. This study was designated to clarify occurrence and prevalence of the two Theileria lineages in Japanese sika deer of Iwate Prefecture, Japan.…”