Molecular detection of Mycoplasma ovis in an outbreak of hemolytic anemia in sheep from Veracruz, Mexico

Abstract

Mycoplasma ovis is a small, pleiotropic bacterium, which parasitizes the external surface of erythrocytes of several species of artiodactyl mammals, especially sheep and goats. We here report an outbreak of ovine mycoplasmosis in a sheep flock of a private ranch (Universidad Veracruzana) in Veracruz, Mexico. For the identification of Mycoplasma and other hemoparasitic bacterial agents, we stained blood smears with the DiffQuick® technique and additionally amplified several fragments of 16S rDNA gene. We detected the presence of morulas in erythrocytes from 30 sick female adult sheep, and found Mycoplasma ovis DNA in all of them. Furthermore, three of these animals also tested positive for Anaplasma ovis. Our findings represent the first record of M. ovis and A. ovis in an outbreak of hemolytic anemia in a sheep flock, leading to severe livestock loss in a ranch of Mexico. This study highlights the importance of establishing an active surveillance of both pathogens in the country.

Survey of vector-borne and nematode parasites involved in the etiology of anemic syndrome in sheep from Southern Brazil

“…Additionally, phylogenetic analysis of the M. ovis 16S rRNA gene showed marked differences from sequences isolated from the same herd. Genotype diversity of M. ovis has been previously reported in flocks from China (Wang et al, 2017) and Mexico (Martínez-Hernández et al, 2019) and, more recently, among deer from Brazil (André et al, 2020). Interestingly, the human-associated M. ovis genotypes were more related to genotypes detected in sheep and goats when compared to those found in deer (André et al, 2020).…”

“…M. haemovis' (Deshuillers et al, 2014). In sheep, M. ovis infection may cause weight loss, hyperthermia, mucosal pallor, and hemolytic anemia (Neimark et al, 2004;Martínez-Hernández et al, 2019). In Brazil, M. ovis has been detected in deer (Grazziotin et al, 2011a, b;André et al, 2020), goats (Machado et al, 2017), and sheep (Souza et al, 2019).…”

Molecular detection of Bartonella, Ehrlichia and Mycoplasma in feral dogs of El Pedregal de San Angel Ecological Reserve in Mexico City

“…As an internal control of extraction, we amplified a fragment of 620 of cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene (COI) of the dogs, using primers and conditions of Marsico et al (2010). For bacterial pathogens detection, we amplified several fragments of the 16S-rRNA and citrate synthase genes using primers and conditions reported previously (Table 1).…”

First molecular detection of Mycoplasma ovis (Hemotropic mycoplasmas) from Sheep in Brazil

“…A synergic interaction between hemoplasmas and Anaplasma sp. was demonstrated in outbreaks that resulted in mortality of sheep (HORNOK et al, 2009;MARTÍNEZ-HERNÁNDEZ et al, 2018) and cattle (HORNOK et al, 2012). Hornok et al (2009) have shown that 73% of the animals in their study had coinfections.…”

“…(B.) microplus has been found infected with M. ovis present in sick sheep (MARTÍNEZ-HERNÁNDEZ et al, 2018). In the Old World, R. bursa is a known vector for M. ovis (NIKOL'SKIĬ & SLIPCHENKO, 1969), and the lack of this species in the New World raises suspicion that R.…”