Molecular Survey and Genetic Diversity of Hemoplasmas in Rodents from Chile

Abstract

Even though hemotrophic mycoplasma (hemoplasma) infections are well documented in a wide variety of hosts worldwide, there is a gap in the knowledge aobut hemoplasmas in rodents. This study aimed to molecularly survey and investigate the genetic diversity of hemoplasmas in rodents from Chile. Synanthropic and wild rodents (n = 74) were captured in the southern province of Valdivia (Corral, Valdivia, Riñihue, and Reumén localities). Spleen samples were submitted to a conventional PCR for hemotrophic Mycoplasma spp. targeting the 16S rRNA gene (800 bp), followed by sequencing, phylogenetic, and genetic diversity analyses. The overall occurrence of hemotrophic mycoplasmas in rodents from Valdivia was 24.5% (18/74) [95% CI (14.5; 34.1)]. Hemoplasmas were detected in Mus musculus (1/4), Rattus norvegicus (1/16), Abrothrix longipilis (7/13), A. olivaceo (6/8), and Oligoryzomys longicaudatus (3/10). The nucleotide polymorphism analysis of the targeted 16S rRNA region showed low diversity, with two genotypes and a high identity to the variants detected in wild rodents from Brazil. Hemoplasmas are described for the first time in rodents from Chile with a moderate occurrence and low 16S rDNA genetic diversity within the sampled rodent population. The detected hemoplasma genotypes were specific to rodents and were not shared with other mammals.

Three-way relationships between gut microbiota, helminth assemblages and bacterial infections in wild rodent populations

“…The former pattern might be explained by the fact that the pathogenic bacteria detected here do not constitute a functional community, in particular because their ecological niche can be very different. For example, hemotrophic Mycoplasma parasitizes erythrocytes (Alabi et al ., 2020) while Borrelia disseminates through the bloodstream and/or lymphatic system to invade and colonize various tissue (Zeidner et al ., 2001). The latter pattern may be interpreted under two perspectives.…”

Hemotropic mycoplasmas in bats from forest fragments, state of Paraná, southern Brazil

“…High genetic diversity among 16S rRNA gene sequences from hemoplasmas detected in bats in 12 countries has been described (Millán et al, 2020). In rodents, high genetic diversity between hemoplasmas has also been found (Alabí et al, 2020). A previous study on bats in Brazil found hemotropic Mycoplasma sp.…”

Worldwide occurrence of haemoplasmas in wildlife: Insights into the patterns of infection, transmission, pathology and zoonotic potential

“…and house mice Mus musculus) have been also investigated in Brazil, Japan, Switzerland, Hungary and Chile. In these species, haemoplasma prevalence was generally around or above 50% (Gonçalves et al, 2015;Hornok et al, 2015;de Oliveira Conrado et al, 2015;Sashida et al, 2013;, with the exception of a recent study in Chile (8%; Alabí et al, 2020). Two species have been described in rodents, namely Mycoplasma coccoides and M. haemomuris.…”

“…In a larger study in Brazil, 10 genotypes were identified among several species of wild rodents and showed between 86% and 99% identity with known murine haemoplasmas (Gonçalves et al, 2015). In Chile, two variants were described in rodents with high identity to variants detected in wild rodents from Brazil (Alabí et al, 2020).…”