Use of repetitive DNA elements to define genetic relationships among Anaplasma marginale isolates

Anaplasma marginale genomic DNA was tested for the presence of repetitive e xtragenic palindromic (REP) and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic conse nsus (ERIC)-like sequences in order to evaluate the genetic diversity of mu ltiple A. marginale isolates. A. marginale isolates were obtained from catt le of six different states of Brazil. from the US and an Anaplasma centrale strain was obtained from Uruguay. Patterns obtained from A. marginale isol ates varied from 14 to 17 Fragments by REP-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 6 to 14 fragments by ERIC-PCR. All A. marginale isolates presented a 0. 75-kb fragment by REP and two common Fragments (0.38 and 1.0 kb) by ERIC-PC R. These two fragments were not detectable in A. centrale. Both methods pro duced similar patterns (80%) among A. marginale isolates obtained From the same region. although some isolates within regions shared less similarity. Isolates from Parana and Pernambuco, were differentiated by these methods. The study demonstrates the presence of ERIC and REP-like elements in A. mar ginale isolates and shows that A. marginale isolates and strains can be dif ferentiated by these methods. (C) 2001 Federation of European Microbiologic al Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.