Molecular characterization of Plasmodium juxtanucleare in Thai native fowls based on partial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene

Pohuang, Tawatchai; Junnu, Sucheeva

doi:2019.59.2.69

Korean J Vet Res > Volume 59(2); 2019 > Article

Original Article

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2019;59(2):69-74.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14405/kjvr.2019.59.2.69 Published online July 15, 2019.

Molecular characterization of Plasmodium juxtanucleare in Thai native fowls based on partial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene

Tawatchai Pohuang, Sucheeva Junnu

Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University

Correspondence: Sucheeva Junnu, Tel: 82-66-86236-5459, Fax: 82-66-43-202-404,
Email: sucheeva@kku.ac.th

Abstract

Avian malaria is one of the most important general blood parasites of poultry in Southeast Asia. Plasmodium (P.) juxtanucleare causes avian malaria in wild and domestic fowl. This study aimed to identify and characterize the Plasmodium species infecting in Thai native fowl. Blood samples were collected for microscopic examination, followed by detection of the Plasmodium cox I gene by using PCR. Five of the 10 sampled fowl had the desired 588 base pair amplicons. Sequence analysis of the five amplicons indicated that the nucleotide and amino acid sequences were homologous to each other and were closely related (100% identity) to a P. juxtanucleare strain isolated in Japan (AB250415). Furthermore, the phylogenetic tree of the cox I gene showed that the P. juxtanucleare in this study were grouped together and clustered with the Japan strain. The presence of P. juxtanucleare described in this study is the first report of P. juxtanucleare in the Thai native fowl of Thailand.

Key Words: fowl, cytochrome C oxidase subunit I, Plasmodium juxtanucleare