Widespread Infection with Hemotropic Mycoplasmas in Free-Ranging Dogs and Wild Foxes Across Six Bioclimatic Regions of Chile

Abstract

Blood samples of 626 rural dogs, 140 Andean foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus), and 83 South American grey foxes (L. griseus) from six bioregions of Chile spanning 3000 km were screened for Mycoplasma DNA by conventional PCR and sequencing. Risk factors of infection were inferred using Generalized Linear Mixed Models and genetic structure by network analyses. Overall, Mycoplasma haemocanis/Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhc/Mhf) and Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum (CMhp) observed prevalence was 23.8% and 12.8% in dogs, 20.1% and 7.2% in Andean foxes, and 26.5% and 8.4% in grey foxes, respectively. Both hemoplasmas were confirmed in all the bioregions, with higher prevalence in those where ticks from the Rhipicephalus sanguineus species group were absent. Candidatus M. haematominutum and a Mycoplasma sp. previously found in South American carnivores were detected in one fox each. Although the most prevalent Mhc/Mhf and CMhp sequence types were shared between dogs and foxes, network analysis revealed genetic structure of Mhc/Mhf between hosts in some regions. Male sex was associated with a higher risk of Mhc/Mhf and CMhp infection in dogs, and adult age with CMhp infection, suggesting that direct transmission is relevant. No risk factor was identified in foxes. Our study provides novel information about canine hemoplasmas with relevance in distribution, transmission routes, and cross-species transmission.

Molecular detection and identification of hemotropic Mycoplasma species in dogs and their ectoparasites in Iran

“…Studies have successfully transmitted feline hemoplasma infection via subcutaneous inoculation of blood containing low numbers of organisms, suggesting possibility of pathogens transmission by ghting and biting in the eld 35 . Association of infection rate and higher age of dogs is in agreement with the recent studies, which reported hemoplasmas to be more prevalent in older dogs 24,33,36 and could be due to longer exposure time to pathogen. However, we found no signi cant association between hemoplasma infection rate and gender or breed, which is in accordance with previous reports in Cuba 37 , Nigeria 38 , Turkey 29 and Mediterranean countries 39 .…”

“…Furthermore, higher prevalences of canine hemoplasmosis have been reported in countries and regions where R. sanguineus s.l. ticks are found more commonly 33 hypothesizing that this tick may be a possible vector for the transmission of canine hemoplasma species. In contrast, none of 350 individual R. sanguineus ticks collected from dogs in a study in Turkey where brown dog tick is prevalent 34 ; and none of the tick specimens including 204 fully engorged nymphs removed from dogs, and 2100 nymphs and 85 adults collected from the grounds of the same shelter where both pathogens were present in examined dogs suggest that R. sanguineus s.l.…”