Detection of a novel haemoplasma species in fattening pigs with skin alterations, fever and anaemia

Abstract

BackgroundIn a fattening farm in Southern Germany, skin alterations (urticaria, haemorrhagic diathesis) and high fever were observed in 30% of the pigs 2 weeks after arrival. Feed intake was severely compromised in affected pigs.MethodsAfter detailed clinical observation, blood samples from affected pigs were collected for haematological, PCR and serological investigations. In addition, pathological investigations were performed on one pig.Results and conclusionAnalysis of blood parameters revealed a normocytic, normochromic anaemia. A novel porcine haemoplasma species was detected in blood samples of affected pigs and spleen sample of the necropsied pig by PCR. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rDNA showed 99% identity to a novel porcine haemoplasma (‘Candidatus (Ca.) M. haemosuis’) species which has recently been described in China. Interestingly, this is the first report of ‘Ca. M. haemosuis’ in pigs with clinical signs resembling those of Mycoplasma (M) suis and the first description of this novel haemoplasma species outside Asia. On-farm affected pigs were treated with oxytetracycline and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Clinical signs improved after implementation of treatment and optimisation of management procedures. This case might indicate that other porcine haemoplasma species than M suis can induce fever and skin alterations and may have an economic impact on affected farms.

Occurrence of ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemosuis’ in fattening pigs, sows and piglets in Germany using a novel gap-based quantitative real-time PCR assay

“…For the establishment of the qPCR ‘ Ca . M. haemosuis’ positive samples were available from a previous study [ 20 ]. In this study, pigs (n = 7) suffering from anaemia, fever, and skin alterations, were tested ‘ Ca .…”

“…In this study, pigs (n = 7) suffering from anaemia, fever, and skin alterations, were tested ‘ Ca . M. haemosuis’-positive by 16S rDNA PCR, sequencing, and subsequent sequence analysis [ 20 ]. Our novel qPCR assay successfully detected ‘ Ca .…”

“…Quantification of ‘ Ca . M. haemosuis’ in the infected pigs [ 20 ] revealed blood loads from 3.08 × 10 2 to 3.96 × 10 7 bacteria/mL blood.…”

“…M. haemosuis’ first in diseased pigs showing also typical clinical signs of an M. suis induced IAP (i.e. anaemia, fever, skin alterations) [ 20 ]. In the present study ‘ Ca .…”

“…Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rDNA revealed that this novel HM species is most closely related to the feline HM ‘ Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’, the murine species Mycoplasma muris and the human HM ‘ Candidatus Mycoplasma haemohominis’ [ 18 ]. This novel porcine HM species was also described in obviously healthy animals in Korea [ 19 ] and, most recently, in clinically affected fattening pigs in Germany with skin alterations, fever, and anaemia [ 20 ]. This clinical case indicated the need to establish a specific and sensitive detection method to investigate the spread of the novel emerging pathogen in the pig population.…”