Genetic diversity among strains detected in naturally infected cattle in Nigeria based on ITS1 of rDNA and diagnostic antigen gene sequences.

(sub-genus Duttonella) is largely responsible for non profitable livestock production in sub-Sahara Africa. In Nigeria, no study has addressed the molecular characteristic of except Y486. Hence, we characterized and assessed the genetic diversity among detected in naturally infected cattle in Nigeria using internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) of ribosoma DNA (rDNA) and diagnostic antigen gene (DAG) sequences. The length of ITS1 and DAG sequences range from 215-220 to 257-338 bp, respectively and the mean G-C contents were 60 and 61.5 %. Homology search revealed 93-99 and 95-100 % homologies to DAG and ITS1 sequences from GenBank. Aligned sequences revealed both ITS1 rDNA and DAG to be less polymorphic but DAG sequences of the Y486 strain and its clone showed marked variation from autochthonous strains. Phylogenetic analysis yielded tree that grouped ITS1rDNA gene and DAG sequences into two main clades each. Considering the ITI1 rDNA sequences, clade A contained autochthonous within which the South American sequences clustered, clade B contained the sequences of from East Africa. Analysis of DAG revealed that the clade A contains autochthonous sequences but clade B contained the Y486 and its clones. In conclusion, the diagnostic antigen gene sequences of the detected in this study may have undergone considerable gene recombination through time and suggests that more than one strain of exist among cattle population in Nigeria.