ABSTRACT. The prevalence of hemotropic mycoplasmas in wild rodents is largely unknown. Here, we report the presence of hemoplasmas in blood samples collected from brown sewer rats (Rattus norvegicus) trapped during rodent control around an animal hospital in Morioka, Japan. We examined nine rats using real-time PCR and end-point PCR, and found one rat (11.1%) that was positive for a hemoplasma infection. The 16S rRNA gene and 16S to 23S rRNA intergenic spacer region of the hemoplasma detected in a wild-caught rat were amplified using PCR. The nucleotide sequences of the PCR products were further determined and compared to those of other hemoplasmas. Our examinations revealed the presence of a hemoplasma that has not previously been described in rodents. The pathogenic traits of this hemoplasma remain unexplored.

The prevalence of hemotropic mycoplasmas in wild monkeys is largely unknown. Here, we report the presence of hemoplasmas in blood specimens collected from wild Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) tentatively captured for ecological survey in Mie prefecture, Japan. We examined 9 monkeys using hemoplasma-specific real-time PCR and found all of them positive for a hemoplasma infection. The 16S rRNA gene and 16S to 23S rRNA intergenic spacer region of the hemoplasma detected in wild monkeys were amplified using end-point PCR. The nucleotide sequences of the PCR products were further determined and compared to those of other hemoplasmas. Our examinations revealed a wide prevalence of a hemoplasma strain in Japanese monkeys, which was similar to ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemomacaque’ reported in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Pathogenic traits of this hemoplasma strain remain unexplored.

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ABSTRACT. Mycoplasma haemomuris is a causative organism of infectious anemia or splenomegaly in rodents. Here, we report two distinct genetic groups among M. haemomuris strains detected from rats and mice, respectively, by examining the nucleotide sequences of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer region that has been shown to be a stable genetic marker for mycoplasma species. Our results may reveal host-tropism of each cluster of M. haemomuris strains, and suggest an idea to distinguish M. haemomuris into two different genetic clusters.

The presence of Mycoplasma haemomuris (haemoplasma) in blood samples collected from specific pathogen-free (SPF) laboratory rats bred in Japan was reported. Its presence was examined in Fischer 344, Sprague-Dawley (SD), and Wistar rat strains of both sexes by real-time PCR. All strains were positive for M. haemomuris infection. The 16S rRNA gene of M. haemomuris strain detected in the animals was amplified using end-point PCR. Only the entire nucleotide sequence of 16S rRNA gene of a mycoplasma strain detected in SD rats was determined and compared to those of other haemoplasmas. Our investigations suggest a wide M. haemomuris infection among the SPF rats purchased from commercial breeders in Japan.