1Sheep Breeding Research Station, Sandynellah, Nilgiris-643 237
2College of Veterinary Sciences, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-643 237.
3Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, India.
Division of Parasitology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, India
*Corresponding author: Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookot, Lakkidi, P.O., Wayanad-673 576, Kerala.
Babesiosis caused by Babesia bigemina is an important tick-borne disease of economic importance in cattle, transmitted exclusively by the Boophilus microplus. Four B. bigemina isolates two each from Izatnagar (North India) and Wayanad (South India) were derived and subjected to genetic analysis by random amplified polymorphic DNA-Polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR). Genomic DNA fingerprints were generated from isolates by PCR using 20 random oligonucleotide primers (10–12) and similarity coefficient and RAP distance between the isolates was calculated. The Izatnagar isolates showed the highest similarity (64%) while the Wayanad isolates showed 50% homogeneity and these two isolates in comparison revealed least similarity (41%). The RAP distance calculated also supported this view suggesting genomic diversity among the isolates under the existing enzootic stability conditions in the country.
Babesia bigemina, Genetic variation, Indian isolates, RAPD-PCR
