Prototheca zopfii genotype 2—The causative agent of bovine protothecal mastitis?

In order to clarify the epidemiology of bovine protothecal mastitis, 30 Prototheca zopfii mastitis isolates were genetically investigated. Based on the 18S rDNA, which allows a differentiation of the former species P. zopfii in two distinct P. zopfii genotypes and Prototheca blaschkeae sp. nov., newly developed genotype-specific PCR-assays as well as RFLP-assays were applied.All mastitis isolates investigated could be assigned to P. zopfii genotype 2 suggesting that this genotype is the aetiological agent of bovine Prototheca mastitis.