The occurrence of the feline “Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum” in dog in China confirmed by sequence-based analysis of ribosomal DNA

Abstract

In the present study, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to detect haemoplasmas (haemotropic bacteria) in 40 clinically healthy pet dogs in Foshan city, Guangdong Province, China, and one dog was found positive. Comparison of its 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequence with relevant sequences showed that the isolated haemoplasma had greater sequence identity to feline species "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum" (99%) than to "Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum" (95%). This result, for the first time, indicates the presence of the feline "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum" in Chinese dogs and it represents the first survey of its kind in China by using PCR assay. The results indicated that dog may represent one of the hosts for the feline "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum".

A Feline Hemoplasma, 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum', Detected in Dog in Japan

“…Although there are a few epidemiological reports on 'Candidatus M. haemominutum' infections in dogs in only China [25] and France [12], there have been no examination on this particular hemoplasma species in Japan. Therefore, we examined for the presence of the feline hemoplasma 'Candidatus M. haemominutum' infection in the dogs in Japan.…”

“…The mechanisms of transmission of hemoplasma between dogs and cats have yet to be defined and need further exploration. Zhuang et al [25] suggested the possibility that a dog was one of the hosts for the feline hemoplasma 'Candidatus M. haemominutum'. However, it is likely that the presence of some underlying conditions (e.g., immunosuppressive, immature) may destroy the strict host specificity in mycoplasma infections, as previously reported in the cases of hemoplasma infection in human [3,10,11,17].…”

Molecular detection of haemophilic pathogens reveals evidence of Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos in dogs and parasitic ticks in central China

“…Mycoplasma haemocanis and C. M. haematoparvum are the two main hemoplasmas infections in dogs [2,3]. About ten years ago, reports indicated that the DNA of heterogenous hemoplasma species, including Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and Mycoplasma ovis, could be detected in samples collected from dogs [4][5][6]. In Australia 'Ca.…”

“…Mycoplasma haemocanis (M. haemocanis) and Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum (C. M. haematoparvum) are the two main hemoplasmas that infect dogs [2,3]. However, a few hemoplasma species that mainly infect other livestock have been detected in dogs: in China and Japan Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum, which mainly infects cats, was found in blood samples collected from dogs [4,5]. In the USA, Mycoplasma ovis mainly infects goats and sheep and was found in splenic hemangiosarcoma samples collected from dogs [6].…”