Detection of DNA of 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' and Spiroplasma sp. in Unfed Ticks Collected from Vegetation in Japan

Taroura, Shoko; Shimada, Yojiro; Sakata, Yoshimi; Miyama, Takako Shimokawa; Hiraoka, Hiroko; Watanabe, Malaika; Itamoto, Kazuhito; Okuda, Masaru; Inokuma, Hisashi

doi:10.1292/jvms.67.1277

Cited by 46 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 15 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In conclusion, although a pathogenic potential of tickborne Spiroplasma species has not been determined, their abundant occurrence in the salivary glands of some tick species confirm the view of Taroura et al [30] who regarded Spiroplasma as 'a potential zoonotic bacterium'. Thus, future studies on Spiroplasma spp.…”

Section: Spiroplasma Species As Pathogens or Symbionts Of Insectssupporting

confidence: 79%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Spiroplasma – an emerging arthropod-borne pathogen?

Cisak

Wójcik-Fatla

Zając

et al. 2015

Ann Agric Environ Med.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Spiroplasma is a genus of wall-less, low-GC, small Gram-positive bacteria of the internal contractile cytoskeleton, with helical morphology and motility. The genus is classified within the class Mollicutes. Spiroplasma / host interactions can be classified as commensal, pathogenic or mutualist. The majority of spiroplasmas are found to be commensals of insects, arachnids, crustaceans or plants, whereas a small number of species are pathogens of plants, insects, and crustaceans. Insects are particularly rich sources of spiroplasmas. The bacteria are common in haematophagous arthropods: deerflies, horseflies, mosquitoes, and in ticks, where they may occur abundantly in salivary glands. The ability of spiroplasmas to propagate in rodents was experimentally proven, and Spiroplasma infections have been reported recently in humans. Some authors have purported an etiological role of Spiroplasma in causing transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), but convincing proof is lacking. The possibility for humans and other vertebrates to be infected with Spiroplasma spp. in natural conditions is largely unknown, as well as the possibility of the transmission of these bacteria by ticks and haematophagous insects. Nevertheless, in the light of new data, such possibilities cannot be excluded.

show abstract

Section: Spiroplasma Species As Pathogens or Symbionts Of Insectssupporting

confidence: 79%

“…In Japan, Spiroplasma DNA was detected by Taroura et al [30] from unfed Ixodes ovatus ticks in Hokkaido, Fukushima and Yamaguchi Prefectures. Analysis of nucleotides sequence suggested that this Spiroplasma was distinct from hitherto described species.…”

Section: Spiroplasma Species As Pathogens or Symbionts Of Insectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spiroplasma – an emerging arthropod-borne pathogen?

Cisak

Wójcik-Fatla

Zając

et al. 2015

Ann Agric Environ Med.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We identified several factors that may have facilitated the rapid spread of the infectious agents from one animal to another in this herd: the animals had experienced an infestation of ticks and lice, and were roaming free within a limited area, and had access to automatically rotating brushes (5). Little is known about the means of transmission of M. wenyonii and other mycoplasma species, but there is some evidence that flies, lice, and fleas may serve as vectors for mechanical transmission (5,15), while blood-sucking arthropods such as ticks may serve as biological vectors (8,23,37). The fact that just a very small portion of the analyzed calves was found to be infected might substantiate this hypothesis, as they are normally less exposed to vectors in the first months of life.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification, Molecular Characterization, and Occurrence of Two Bovine Hemoplasma Species in Swiss Cattle and Development of Real-Time TaqMan Quantitative PCR Assays for Diagnosis of Bovine Hemoplasma Infections

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Concomitantly with an outbreak of fatal anaplasmosis in a cattle herd in Switzerland in 2002, we detected two bovine hemoplasma species in diseased animals: Mycoplasma wenyonii (formerly Eperythrozoon wenyonii) and a second, novel bovine hemoplasma species later designated "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos" (synonym, "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobovis"). The second species was characterized by a shorter 16S rRNA gene. The aims of the present study were to provide a detailed molecular characterization of this species, to develop specific quantitative real-time PCR assays for the two bovine hemoplasma species, and to apply these assays in order to evaluate the prevalence and clinical significance of the hemoplasmas. Sequencing of the near-complete 16S rRNA gene of the second hemoplasma revealed that it was 94% identical to that of Mycoplasma haemofelis, an anemia-inducing feline hemoplasma species, but less than 85% identical to that of the bovine hemoplasma M. wenyonii. Using the newly developed assays, a total of 159 animals from the anaplasmosis outbreak were reexamined. In addition, we tested 57 clinically ill and 61 healthy Swiss cattle, as well as 47 calves. Both hemoplasmas were highly prevalent in adult cattle but occurred rarely in calves. Animals from the herd with the fatal anemia outbreak were more frequently infected with M. wenyonii and exhibited higher M. wenyonii blood loads than animals with unrelated diseases and healthy animals. Coinfections may increase the pathogenicity and clinical significance of bovine hemoplasmosis.

show abstract

“…Furthermore, "Ca. Mycoplasma haemominutum" DNA was recently reported in unfed Ixodes ovatus ticks collected from three different areas in Japan (24). Other PCR-based studies demonstrated "Ca.…”

mentioning

confidence: 93%

Real-Time PCR Investigation of Potential Vectors, Reservoirs, and Shedding Patterns of Feline Hemotropic Mycoplasmas

Willi

Boretti

Meli

et al. 2007

Appl Environ Microbiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Three hemotropic mycoplasmas have been identified in pet cats: Mycoplasma haemofelis, "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum," and "Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis." The way in which these agents are transmitted is largely unknown. Thus, this study aimed to investigate fleas, ticks, and rodents as well as saliva and feces from infected cats for the presence of hemotropic mycoplasmas, to gain insight into potential transmission routes for these agents. DNA was extracted from arthropods and from rodent blood or tissue samples from Switzerland and from salivary and fecal swabs from two experimentally infected and six naturally infected cats. All samples were analyzed with real-time PCR, and some positive samples were confirmed by sequencing. Feline hemotropic mycoplasmas were detected in cat fleas and in a few Ixodes sp. and Rhipicephalus sp. ticks collected from animals but not in ticks collected from vegetation or from rodent samples, although the latter were frequently Mycoplasma coccoides PCR positive. When shedding patterns of feline hemotropic mycoplasmas were investigated, "Ca. Mycoplasma turicensis" DNA was detected in saliva and feces at the early but not at the late phase of infection. M. haemofelis and "Ca. Mycoplasma haemominutum" DNA was not amplified from saliva and feces of naturally infected cats, despite high hemotropic mycoplasma blood loads. Our results suggest that besides an ostensibly indirect transmission by fleas, direct transmission through saliva and feces at the early phase of infection could play a role in the epizootiology of feline hemotropic mycoplasmas. Neither the investigated tick nor the rodent population seems to represent a major reservoir for feline hemotropic mycoplasmas in Switzerland.

show abstract

Detection of DNA of 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' and Spiroplasma sp. in Unfed Ticks Collected from Vegetation in Japan

Cited by 46 publications

References 15 publications

Spiroplasma – an emerging arthropod-borne pathogen?

Spiroplasma – an emerging arthropod-borne pathogen?

Identification, Molecular Characterization, and Occurrence of Two Bovine Hemoplasma Species in Swiss Cattle and Development of Real-Time TaqMan Quantitative PCR Assays for Diagnosis of Bovine Hemoplasma Infections

Real-Time PCR Investigation of Potential Vectors, Reservoirs, and Shedding Patterns of Feline Hemotropic Mycoplasmas

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About