The occurrence of hemotropic Mycoplasma ovis-like species in horses

Publication date: Available online 23 December 2019Source: Preventive Veterinary MedicineAuthor(s): Mohsen Kalantari, Hassan Sharifiyazdi, Mohsen Ghane, Saeed NazifiAbstractHemotropic mycoplasmas (haemoplasmas) are wall-less bacteria, which may lead to anemia and, even, mortality in mammals. The present study was aimed to characterize the causative agent(s) of haemoplasma infection in blood samples taken from horses (n = 133) in south of Iran. Microscopic examination of blood smears and PCR assay were performed for the detection of hemotropic Mycoplasma and equine piroplasma (Babesia caballi and Theileria equi). For the purpose of molecular characterization, 16S rDNA and 18S rDNA markers were used for hemotropic Mycoplasma and piroplasma pathogens, respectively. The PCR-positive samples were sequenced for haemoplasma and further phylogenetic analysis was performed for the obtained haemoplasma sequences. Nine out of 133 (6.77%, 95% CI: 2.5-11.04%) horses were positive for Mycoplasma sp. by PCR. Furthermore, three of these animals were co-infected with T. equi. Interestingly, the phylogenetic and molecular analysis of the haemoplasma sequences derived from the PCR amplicons in the equine positive cases showed 100% identity with 16S rDNA in Mycoplasma ovis, an HM member mainly found in sheep and goats. In addition, the hematological analysis showed that PCR positive horses for M. ovis-like species had a lower hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, and red blood cel...
Source: Preventive Veterinary Medicine - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research