First molecular detection of Mycoplasma ovis in horses from Brazil.
Abstract: This study aimed to determine the occurrence of hemoplasmas and tick-borne pathogens (TBP) (Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and Ehrlichia sp.) in horses and ticks' salivary glands, and determine the factors associated with exposure/infection in a rural settlement in southern Brazil. Blood samples from 22 horses were screened for anti-T. equi and anti-Ehrlichia sp. antibodies by an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) assays. Samples were also tested by PCR assays for T. equi and B. caballi (18S rRNA and rap-1 genes, respectively), hemoplasmas (16S rRNA gene), and Ehrlichia sp. (dsb gene). Ticks were removed from the animals (inspection) and the environment (flannel trawling and dry ice traps), and morphologically identified. Additionally, salivary glands DNA was extracted from 28 adult ticks infesting the animals and four nymphs from the environment, and further screened for Ehrlichia sp. and hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. Anti-T. equi and anti-Ehrlichia sp. antibodies were detected in 40.91% (nine/22; 95% CI: 23.26-61.27) and 31.81% (seven/22; 95% CI: 16.36-52.68) horses, respectively. Theileria equi, B. caballi, and hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. DNA was detected in 59.09% (13/22), 4.55% (one/22), and 50% (11/22) horses, respectively. All horses tested negative in the PCR for Ehrlichia sp. All sequences showed ≥99% identity with multiple T. equi, B. caballi, and Mycoplasma ovis sequences deposited in GenBank database. Adult ticks were identified as Dermacentor nitens (44/47; 93.62%) and Rhipicephalus microplus (three/47; 6.38%). Ticks' salivary glands were negative for Ehrlichia sp., while 39.29% from adults (11/28) and 50% from nymphs (two/four) from the environment were positive for hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. This is the first report of M. ovis infection in horses from Brazil and the first detection of hemoplasma DNA in salivary glands of D. nitens and R. microplus ticks. Further studies are needed to elucidate the vector competence of ticks to transmit hemoplasmas.
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Publication Date: 2022-09-23 PubMed ID: 36162457DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106697Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research examines the occurrence of certain diseases and pathogens in horses and ticks in southern Brazil. Specifically, it reported the first instance of Mycoplasma ovis infection in horses and the detection of hemoplasma DNA in salivary glands of two tick species from the region.
Research Methodology and Results
The researchers looked at several specific diseases and pathogens including:
- Theileria equi
- Babesia caballi
- Ehrlichia species
- Various Hemoplasmas
They tested blood samples from 22 horses for antibodies related to T. equi and Ehrlichia species. The testing methods involved indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) assays. PCR assays, which are procedures used to amplify small segments of DNA, were also employed to test for other specific pathogens.
In addition to this, ticks were collected from the horses and the immediate environment. The researchers then identified the ticks morphologically, extracted DNA from the salivary glands of adult and nymph ticks, and examined it for the presence of Ehrlichia species and hemotropic Mycoplasma species.
Disease Detections in Horses
The team found antibodies for T. equi and Ehrlichia species in roughly 41% and 32% of horses, respectively. They also discovered DNA evidence for T. equi, B. caballi, and hemotropic Mycoplasma species in 59%, 4.5%, and 50% of horses, respectively. Importantly, all horses tested negative for Ehrlichia species through PCR test.
Disease Detections in Ticks
The team identified the majority of adult ticks as Dermacentor nitens, with a small amount being Rhipicephalus microplus. They did not find Ehrlichia species in the salivary glands of the ticks, but hemotropic Mycoplasma species were present in around 39% of adult ticks and 50% of nymph ticks.
Significant Findings
This study produced two significant findings:
- The first report of M. ovis infection in horses in Brazil, a variant of the hemotropic Mycoplasma species.
- Hemoplasma DNA was found for the first time in the salivary glands of D. nitens and R. microplus ticks.
The study concludes that further research is recommended to better understand the ability of ticks to transmit these diseases to their hosts.
Cite This Article
APA
Kakimori MTA, Barros LD, Collere FCM, Ferrari LDR, de Matos A, Lucas JI, Coradi VS, Mongruel ACB, Aguiar DM, Machado RZ, André MR, Vieira TSWJ, Vieira RFC.
(2022).
First molecular detection of Mycoplasma ovis in horses from Brazil.
Acta Trop, 237, 106697.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106697 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários, Campus Agrárias, 1540, Juvevê, Curitiba, PR 80035-050, Brazil; Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil.
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil.
- Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários, Campus Agrárias, 1540, Juvevê, Curitiba, PR 80035-050, Brazil.
- Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários, Campus Agrárias, 1540, Juvevê, Curitiba, PR 80035-050, Brazil.
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil.
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários, Campus Agrárias, 1540, Juvevê, Curitiba, PR 80035-050, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia, Teriogenologia e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Virologia e Rickettsioses, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia, Teriogenologia e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia, Teriogenologia e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil.
- Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários, Campus Agrárias, 1540, Juvevê, Curitiba, PR 80035-050, Brazil.
- Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários, Campus Agrárias, 1540, Juvevê, Curitiba, PR 80035-050, Brazil; Global One Health initiative (GOHi), The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. Electronic address: rvieira@ufpr.br.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Sheep
- Horses
- Cattle
- Babesiosis / epidemiology
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Theileria / genetics
- Mycoplasma / genetics
- Ticks
- Ehrlichia / genetics
- Theileriasis / epidemiology
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declared no conflict of interest.
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Konstantinović N, Gotić J, Baban M, Csik G, Listeš E, Gagović E, Jurković Žilić D, Arežina I, Šubara G, Čulina FE, Delić N, Višal D, Zvonar Z, Beck R, Kostelić A. Absence of Host-Specific Hemotropic Mycoplasmas in Horses and Donkeys from Croatia: First Systematic Survey in Southeastern Europe. Animals (Basel) 2026 Jan 15;16(2).
- Ballados-González GG, Cruz-Romero A, Martínez-Hernández JM, Aguilar-Domínguez M, Vieira RFC, Grostieta E, Becker I, Sánchez-Montes S. Confirmation of the presence of Hemotropic Mycoplasma species in working equids from Veracruz, Mexico. Trop Anim Health Prod 2025 May 19;57(5):225.
- Ghauri MSZ, Soomro S, Novianto D, Arnuphapprasert A, Kaewthamasorn M. Molecular detection and genetic characterization of hemotropic mycoplasmas in goats and fleas from Thailand. Sci Rep 2024 Nov 29;14(1):29702.
- Altay K, Erol U, Sahin OF, Ulucesme MC, Aytmirzakizi A, Aktas M. Survey of tick-borne pathogens in grazing horses in Kyrgyzstan: phylogenetic analysis, genetic diversity, and prevalence of Theileria equi. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1359974.
- da Gama BC, Martins TF, Labruna MB, Vieira RFDC, de Almeida JC. First report of Amblyomma sculptum (Amblyomma cajennense complex) in a Brazilian state classified as a silent area for human rickettsiosis. Vet World 2023 Nov;16(11):2200-2204.
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