A repetitive deoxyribonucleic acid sequence distinguishes Trypanosoma simiae from T. congolense

The dominant repetitive deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence in the genome of a clone of Trypanosoma (Nannomonas) simiae has been identified and cloned as a recombinant plasmid. The recombinant plasmid was used in hybridization analyses of DNA samples obtained from various trypanosome species and subspecies. The results indicated that the T. simiae repetitive DNA sequence hybridized with DNA derived only from T. simiae; it did not hybridize with DNA derived from clones or stocks of T. congolense, or from any other trypanosome species examined. A preliminary characterization of the cloned DNA sequence and its use in the identification of T. simiae of similar genotypes are presented.