RPS8--a new informative DNA marker for phylogeny of Babesia and Theileria parasites in China.

Piroplasmosis is a serious debilitating and sometimes fatal disease. Phylogenetic relationships within piroplasmida are complex and remain unclear. We compared the intron-exon structure and DNA sequences of the RPS8 gene from Babesia and Theileria spp.

First report on the occurrence of Rickettsia slovaca and Rickettsia raoultii in Dermacentor silvarum in China.

Background: Rickettsioses are among both the longest known and most recently recognized infectious diseases. Although new spotted fever group rickettsiae have been isolated in many parts of the world including China, Little is known about the epidemiology of Rickettsia pathogens in ticks from Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China.

Methods: In an attempt to assess the potential risk of rickettsial infection after exposure to ticks in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, a total of 200 Dermacentor silvarum ticks collected in Xinyuan district were screened by polymerase chain reaction based on the outer membrane protein A gene.

[An indirect ELISA for the detection of Babesia caballi in equine animals].

Objective: To clone and express BC48 gene of Babesia caballi, and to establish an indirect ELISA for the diagnosis of B. caballi in equine animals.

Method: The genomic DNA of B.

[Construction of cDNA expression library of unfed female Haemaphysalis longicornis and immuno-screening].

Objective: To construct a cDNA expression library from unfed female tick Haemaphysalis longicornis for screening and cloning potential antigenic genes.

Methods: Total RNA was isolated from unfed female ticks, mRNA was purified and a library of oligo (dT) -primed cDNA with added directional EcoR I /Hind III linkers was constructed from the purified mRNA. The constructed cDNA was ligated to the EcoR I /Hind III arms of the lambda SCREEN vector.

[Construction of cDNA expression library of salivary gland from Boophilus microplus].

Total RNA were isolated from salivary gland dissected from partially engorged Boophilus microplus. The mRNA was purified. A library of oligo (dT)-primed cDNA with added directional EcoR I/Hind III linkers was constructed from the purified mRNA.