Genetic Characterization of the RAP-1A and SBP-4 Genes of Babesia Species Infecting Cattle from Selangor, Malaysia, and Ribah, Nigeria

Adamu Isah Gano; Siti Zubaidah Ramanoon; Nor-Azlina Abdul Aziz; Mazlina Mazlan; Mohd Rosly Shaari; Abdullahi Aliyu; Muhammad Bashir Bello; Mustapha Umar Imam; Hazilawati Hamzah

doi:10.3390/pathogens13030247

Genetic Characterization of the RAP-1A and SBP-4 Genes of Babesia Species Infecting Cattle from Selangor, Malaysia, and Ribah, Nigeria

Pathogens. 2024 Mar 13;13(3):247. doi: 10.3390/pathogens13030247.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia.
² Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, Plot 84, Ralph Sodeinde Street, Central Business District, Abuja 900211, Nigeria.
³ Department of Farm and Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁴ Animal Science Research Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Headquarters, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁵ Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Applied and Health Sciences, A'Sharqiyah University, P.O. Box 42, Ibra 400, Oman.
⁶ Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto 840212, Sokoto State, Nigeria.
⁷ Centre for Advance Medical Research and Training, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto 840212, Sokoto State, Nigeria.
⁸ Infectious Disease Research Department King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh P.O. Box 3660, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Bovine babesiosis has substantial economic implications in the cattle industry, emphasizing the need for a thorough understanding of the genetic diversity of the causative apicomplexan pathogen. Although babesiosis has been extensively studied globally, the genetic diversity of Babesia species in Malaysian and Nigerian cattle remains unreported. This study aims to bridge this gap by detecting and characterizing Babesia species in selected cattle herds. Our investigation explores the genetic diversity of Babesia species in cattle from Selangor, Malaysia, and Ribah, Nigeria. Blood samples revealed a 32.9% infection rate via PCR analysis. Further genetic analysis detected variations in Malaysian Babesia bigemina isolates but genetic similarity among Nigerian isolates. Conversely, all Babesia bovis isolates displayed genetic homogeneity. In summary, this research identifies genetic diversity in Babesia species affecting Malaysian and Nigerian cattle, highlighting regional disparities.

Keywords: babesia; cattle; nested PCR; phylogenetic analysis.

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE) (FRGS/1/2019/WAB01/UPM/02/2) and IPS Research Grant, Universiti Putra Malaysia (GP-IPS/2018/9617000). The Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service, approved study leave with pay to support the student. The funding bodies did not play any role in the design of the study and collection, interpretation of data, and in the writing of the manuscript.