Macrorestriction fragment profiles reveal genetic variation of Cowdria ruminantium isolates

Macrorestriction profile analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE ) was used to distinguish between seven isolates of Cowdria ruminantium fro m geographically different areas. Characteristic profiles were generated fo r each isolate by using the restriction endonucleases KspI, SalI, and SmaI with chromosomal sizes ranging between 1,546 and 1,692 kb. Statistical anal ysis of the macrorestriction profiles indicated that all the isolates were distinct from each other; these data contribute to a better understanding o f the epidemiology of this pathogen and may be exploited for the identifica tion of genotype-specific DNA probes.