Molecular survey of Babesia infections in cattle from different areas of Myanmar.

Cattle babesiosis is one of the most important tick-borne diseases worldwide. The present study reports a molecular survey of Babesia infections in cattle in Myanmar. Nested PCR assays based on the Babesia bigemina apical membrane antigen-1 gene (AMA-1) and B. bovis rhoptry associated protein-1 gene (RAP-1) revealed that the overall percentage of B. bigemina and B. bovis infection were 9.8% (70/713) and 17.1% (122/713), respectively. A mixed infection was detected in 4.6% (33/713) of animals. Animals <1 year (OR=13.66, CI=5.15-36.26) and 1-5 years of age (OR=3.91, CI=1.50-10.17) were identified as potential risk factors for B. bigemina infection. For B. bovis infection, age <1 year (OR=3.06, CI=1.63-5.75) and 1-5 years (OR=2.08, CI=1.21-3.57), Friesian-Zebu crossbreeds (OR=2.04, CI=1.26-3.30) and grazing (OR=1.59, CI=1.06-2.38) were identified as potential risk factors. This is the first report on a nationwide survey of bovine Babesia infections in Myanmar, providing useful information for the management and control of the disease.

Distribution of MdACS3 null alleles in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) and its relevance to the fruit ripening characters.

Expression of MdACS3a, one of the ripening-related ACC synthase genes, plays a pivotal role in initiating the burst of ethylene production by MdACS1 in apple fruit. Although previous studies have demonstrated the presence of MdACS3a-null alleles through deficiency of transcription activity or loss of enzyme activity due to amino acid substitution, which may affect the storage properties of certain fruit cultivars, an overall picture of these null alleles in cultivars is still lacking. The present study investigated the distribution of null allelic genes in 103 cultivars and 172 breeding selections by using a simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker linked to them. The results indicated that both allelic genes were widely distributed throughout the examined cultivars and selections, some occurring as the null genotype, either homozygously or heterozygously, with each null allele. The implications of MdACS3a distribution results and the influence of its null allelotypes in fruit characters are discussed.