Development of a recombinant Anaplasma marginale DNA probe

Abstract

An Anaplasma marginale DNA probe has been developed by using an improved method for the isolation of genomic DNA. Purified genomic A. marginale DNA from the St. Croix isolate was partially digested with Sau 3A1 into fragments (greater than or equal to 5.0 kb). The restriction fragments were cloned using standard techniques in the pBR322 vector and used to transform E. coli (DH5) host cells. The recombinant A. marginale DNA library was screened by the colony lifting procedure. Colonies containing plasmids with A. marginale DNA inserts were identified by hybridization with a genomic A. marginale DNA radiolabeled probe (32P). Seven recombinant A. marginale DNA probes were evaluated by dot-blot in vitro hybridization assays to identify candidates as diagnostic tools in bovine anaplasmosis studies. Specificity and sensitivity experiments were carried out by using heterologous and homologous DNAs. The heterologous panel contained bovine DNA (WBC) and blood parasites DNA from Babesia bovis (Bb), Babesia bigemina (Bbi), Eperythrozoon suis (Es) and Eperythrozoon wenyoni (Ew). The homologous DNA panel included A. marginale DNAs of 12 different isolates which were isolated in the Caribbean, Mexico, and the U.S.A. The selected diagnostic probe was identified as pSt. Croix A1, and labeled with 32P by using in vitro nick translation and random primer techniques. The pSt. Croix A1 probe demonstrated 100% specificity and high sensitivity by hybridization in dot blotting and Southern blotting. The probe can detect 500-1000 infected erythrocytes per microliters which corresponds to a parasitemia of less than 0.01%. The A. marginale DNA insert was approximately 6.4 kb in size and a partial restriction map has been constructed.