First molecular detection of Mycoplasma wenyonii and the ectoparasite biodiversity in dairy water buffalo and cattle in Bohol, Philippines

The Bacterial and pathogenic landscape of African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) whole blood and serum from Kenya

BACKGROUND

African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a significant reservoir host for many zoonotic and parasitic infections in Africa. These include a range of viruses and pathogenic bacteria, such as tick-borne rickettsial organisms. Despite the considerations of mammalian blood as a sterile environment, blood microbiome sequencing could become crucial for agnostic biosurveillance. This study investigated the blood microbiome of clinically healthy wild buffaloes in Kenya to determine its applicability in agnostic testing for bacteria in apparently healthy wild animals.

METHODS

Whole blood and serum samples were collected from 46 wild African buffalos from Meru National Park (30), Buffalo Springs (6) and Shaba (10) National Reserves in upper eastern Kenya. Total deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from these samples and subjected to amplicon-based sequencing targeting the 16 S rRNA gene. The bacteria operational taxonomic units (OTU) were identified to species levels by mapping the generated V12 and V45 regions of 16 S rRNA gene to the SILVA database. These OTU tables were used to infer the microbial abundance in each sample type and at the individual animal level. The sequences for the corresponding OTUs were also used to generate phylogenetic trees and thus infer evolution for the OTUs of interest.

RESULTS

Here, we demonstrate that buffaloes harbor many bacteria in their blood. We also report a diversity of 16 S rRNA gene sequences for Anaplasma and Mycoplasma from individual animals. By sequencing both whole blood and serum in triplicate for each animal, we provide evidence of the differences in detecting bacteria in both sample types.

CONCLUSIONS

Diverse bacteria, including some potential pathogens, can be found in the blood of clinically healthy wild African buffalo. Agnostic surveillance for such pathogens can be achieved through blood microbiome sequencing. However, considerations for the question being asked for the blood microbiome in wildlife will impact the choice for using whole blood or serum for sequencing.

First molecular evidence of bovine hemoplasmas in houseflies (Musca domestica)

BACKGROUND

Hemoplasma infections in cattle are caused by Mycoplasma wenyonii and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos and induce asymptomatic or chronic infections but occasionally lead to life-threatening hemolytic anemia. Despite the global distribution of bovine hemoplasmas, information regarding their transmission vectors and prevalence is still lacking in the Republic of Korea. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the infection rate of bovine hemoplasma in cattle and houseflies and to assess the risk factors associated with hemoplasma infection in cattle.

METHODS

Overall, 376 blood samples were collected from Korean indigenous cattle (male, 10-13 months old), along with 2,690 houseflies (Musca domestica) from the same farm where the cattle were raised. PCR assays targeting the 16S rRNA gene were performed to detect hemoplasmas, and positive samples were sequenced.

RESULTS

The infection rate of bovine hemoplasmas was 50.8% (191/376) in cattle and 7.4% in pooled houseflies. Among cattle, 18.6% (70/376) and 20.0% (75/376) tested positive for M. wenyonii and Candidatus M. haemobos, respectively. Conversely, in houseflies, Candidatus M. haemobos was more frequently detected (5.9%) than M. wenyonii (0.7%). Co-infection was 12.2% (46/376) in cattle and 0.7% in flies. Furthermore, hemoplasma infection was significantly associated with the grazing experience of their dams. Cattle born to cows with grazing experience exhibited a higher risk for M. wenyonii infection (odds ratio [OR] = 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-2.55; P = 0.045), whereas these cattle had a lower risk for Candidatus M. haemobos infection (OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.19-0.74; P = 0.000) than animals born to cows without grazing experience. The sequences obtained from houseflies were confirmed as Candidatus M. haemobos, which displayed high similarity (98.2-100%) to those from cattle obtained in this study.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this study represents the first report of bovine hemoplasmas identified in houseflies. This molecular evidence suggests that houseflies may be possible vectors for Candidatus M. haemobos.

A comprehensive molecular survey of vector-borne blood parasites in cattle in Kyrgyzstan with a note of the first molecular detection of Anaplasma bovis and Candidatus Anaplasma Camelii

Vector-borne pathogens continue to increase their impact on the livestock industry worldwide. To protect animals against these pathogens, it is very important to identify the species that cause the disease and understand their prevalence. This study aimed to investigate the presence and prevalence of vector-borne pathogens in apparently healthy cattle in different parts of Kyrgyzstan using molecular diagnostic techniques. For this purpose, 531 blood samples were collected from the Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Batken oblasts of Kyrgyzstan. The blood samples were investigated for vector-borne pathogens using PCR, RLB, and RFLP. Moreover, DNA sequence analyses were used to confirm the results of molecular techniques and phylogenetic analyses of these pathogens. 359 (67.61%) out of 531 samples were found to be infected with at least one pathogen, whereas 172 (32.39%) were detected to be negative. Thirteen vector-borne pathogens were detected in cattle blood samples, and the prevalence of these pathogens was as follows: Theileria orientalis (47.83%), T. annulata (25.61%), Babesia major (0.19%), B. occultans (0.38%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum-like 1 (3.20%), A. capra (3.01%), A. centrale (2.82%), A. bovis (1.13%), (A) ovis (0.19%), Candidatus Anaplasma camelii (0.94%), Trypanosoma theileri (19.21%), Mycoplasma wenyonii (6.03%), and Ca. Mycoplasma haemobos (2.64%). Among the positive samples, one pathogen was identified in 189 cattle (35.59%), and co-infections (two or more pathogens) were determined in 170 (32.01%) animals. Theileria parva, T. mutans, (B) bigemina, B. bovis, B. divergens, and A. marginale could not be detected in the study. Anaplasma bovis and Ca. Anaplasma camelii were detected for the first time in the country. This molecular survey provides important epidemiological and genetic data for the vector-borne pathogens in cattle. The results of the study showed that vector-borne pathogens have a significant spread and distribution in cattle in Kyrgyzstan.

Preliminary report of Mycoplasma Wenoynii and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos infection in Korean native cattle

BACKGROUND

Hemotropic mycoplasmas or hemoplasmas are bacteria that attach to the erythrocyte surface and cause bovine hemoplasmosis. Two species, Mycoplasma wenyonii and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos, have been identified and shown to be distributed worldwide. However, there is currently no information available on hemoplasmas in cattle in the Republic of Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of hemoplasmas in Korean native cattle and to evaluate the association between hemoplasma infection and anemia.

METHODS

One farm was selected, at which blood samples were collected from 104 Korean native cattle [grazing cattle (n = 89) and housed cattle (n = 15)]. Hemoplasmas were detected via polymerase chain reaction analysis and complete blood counts were also performed.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of hemoplasmas was 34% (35/104); 20.2% (21/104) for M. wenyonii, 3.8% (4/104) for C. M. haemobos, and 9.6% (10/104) for co-infection. Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos was detected only in grazing cattle. Of red blood cell (RBC) parameters, C. M. haemobos-infected cattle had lower RBC and hematocrit, and higher mean cell volume than hemoplasma-negative cattle, although none of these differences were statistically significant. This is the first study to report the occurrence of M. wenyonii and C. M. haemobos. Mycoplasma wenyonii is more prevalent than C. M. haemobos in Korean native cattle. The results did not show an association between hemoplasma infection and anemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the infection rate of hemoplasmas shown in this study, further studies, such as on the pathogenicity and clinical significance of hemoplasmas are necessary.

Molecular prevalence of bovine hemoplasmosis in Turkey with first detection of Mycoplasma wenyonii and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos in cattle and water buffalo

Hemoplasma species can cause infection varying from mild to severe in a wide range of hosts, including cattle and water buffalo. Two hemoplasma species, Mycoplasma wenyonii and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos, have been reported in cattle and water buffalo from different parts of the world to date. There was a lack of information on the presence and distribution of these pathogens in Turkey despite the negative economic impact on livestock production. This study aimed to develop a duplex PCR assay amplifying the 16S rRNA gene, in order to analyze DNA samples obtained from 297 cattle and 360 water buffaloes, and to determine the molecular prevalence of bovine hemoplasma species in Sivas province. Bovine hemoplasma species were found in 94 of 297 (31.64%) cattle and in 17 of 360 (4.72%) water buffaloes in this study. Randomly selected six positives PCR products (three samples each species) obtained from cattle and water buffaloes were sequenced, and the consensus sequences were uploaded to GenBank. Nucleotide similarity of 96.97-100% was determined between M. wenyonii isolates obtained in this study and those of M. wenyonii isolates present in the GenBank database, whereas C. Mycoplasma haemobos isolates from this study shared 99.04-100% homology with the C. Mycoplasma haemobos isolates uploaded to the GenBank. With the current study, the molecular presence of M. wenyonii and C. Mycoplasma haemobos were documented for the first time in cattle and water buffaloes in Turkey. Considering the rate of prevalence, veterinarians should take precautions against bovine hemoplasma species to protect animal health.

Haemoplasma Prevalence and Diversity in Three Invasive Rattus Species from Gauteng Province, South Africa

Invasive Rattus species are carriers of haemotropic Mycoplasmas (haemoplasmas) globally, but data from Africa are lacking. Using a PCR-sequencing approach, we assessed haemoplasma prevalence and diversity in kidney and buccal swabs collected from three invasive Rattus species (Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus and R. tanezumi) in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Whilst the overall sequence-confirmed haemoplasma prevalence was 38.4%, infection rates in R. rattus (58.3%) were significantly higher (χ2 = 12.96; df = 2; n = 99 p < 0.05) than for R. tanezumi (14.3%). Differences between host sex (χ2 = 3.59 × 10−31; df = 1; n = 99; p = 1.00) and age (χ2 = 4.28; df = 2; n = 99; p = 0.12) were not significant. Whilst buccal (1.01%) and ectoparasite positivity (2.13%) were low, these results suggest that multiple transmission routes are possible. Three phylogenetically distinct lineages, consistent with global rat-associated strains described to date, were detected, namely, ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemomuris subsp. Ratti’, and two Rattus-specific haemoplasmas that are yet to be formally described. These results expand the known distribution of invasive rat-associated haemoplasmas and highlight the potential for pathogen co-invasion of new territories together with invading rodent hosts.

Molecular detection of Mycoplasma wenyonii and its closely related hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. in blood-sucking flies from a buffalo farm in Chachoengsao province, Thailand

Bovine hemoplasmosis is a disease in buffaloes and cattle caused by hemotropic mycoplasmas or hemoplasmas. Only two bovine hemoplasma species, Mycoplasma wenyonii and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos, have been described in several countries. Hemoplasmas induce acute hemolytic anemia or chronic infection, leading to production loss. Bovine hemoplasma DNA was also detected in blood-sucking arthropods, suggesting vector transmission in farms. To date, no studies of the molecular detection of bovine hemoplasmas in Thai buffaloes and arthropod vectors have been reported. This study aimed to study the 1-year diversity of hematophagous flies in a buffalo farm located in Chachoengsao province, Thailand, and to investigate the molecular occurrence of bovine hemoplasmas in those flies using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and sequence analyses. A total of 1,488 mosquitoes, 867 stable flies, and 312 tabanid flies were collected during this study. The most abundant mosquitoes, stable flies, and tabanid flies were Culex tritaeniorhynchus, Stomoxys calcitrans, and Tabanus megalops, respectively. A total of 249 genomic DNA samples of flies were tested using a PCR assay based on the 16S rRNA gene; 23.69% (59/249) of the insect samples were positive in this assay. Positive samples (n = 8) were subjected to bidirectional sequencing. The BLAST results showed that only three samples from Stomoxys calcitrans and two samples from Tabanus megalops showed 99.90% and 99.17% similarities to the M. wenyonii isolate B003 (MG948626/Water buffalo/Cuba) and the M. wenyonii isolate C124 (MG948625/Cattle/Cuba), respectively. This molecular occurrence of bovine hemoplasmas in blood-sucking flies suggested that those flies are the mechanical vectors for bovine hemoplasmas in Thailand. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene, the sequences of M. wenyonii were likely classified into two subgroups (A and B), suggesting closely related bovine hemoplasma species. Finally, the genetic analysis of the 23S rRNA gene from these two subgroups revealed that subgroup A could be M. wenynoii and subgroup B may be a subspecies of M. wenyonii or another putative novel species. However, further investigation should be conducted in buffaloes, cattle, and blood-sucking flies to gain more 16S rRNA and 23 rRNA gene sequences of bovine hemoplasmas.

Molecular detection and characterization of novel haemotropic Mycoplasma in free-living mole rats from South Africa

The importance of haemotropic Mycoplasma (haemoplasma) infections to animal and human health is increasingly recognised. Although wild rodents are known to host these bacteria, haemoplasma prevalence and diversity in small mammals is under-documented, globally. This is due to the reliance on molecular approaches to detect these unculturable, obligate bacteria and to a paucity of assays targeting informative gene regions. We attempted to address these challenges by evaluating the performance of three 16S rRNA PCR assays for detecting Mycoplasma in four African mole-rat species of the family Bathyergidae. This was achieved by screening DNA samples prepared from lung and liver samples of 260 bathyergids, sampled from natural and urban landscapes in the Western Cape Province with one published and two novel conventional PCR assays. Sequence-confirmed Mycoplasma presence guided calculations of the relative sensitivity and specificity of the assays and revealed that 26.5% of the rodents were haemoplasma-positive. Bathyergus suillus sampled near an informal human settlement had a significantly higher infection rate (42%) than the three bathyergid species sampled from natural settings, for which PCR-positivity ranged from 0% to 36%. The 16S rRNA gene phylogeny identified the presence of six Mycoplasma strains in bathyergids that form a novel monophyletic lineage belonging to the haemofelis group, with 16S rRNA and Rnase P gene phylogenies indicating that the bathyergid-associated haemoplasmas were novel and closely related to Mycoplasma coccoides. Assay sensitivity ranged from 60.3% to 76.8% and specificity from 94.8% to 100% and both were highest for the novel assay targeting a ~ 300 bp region of the 16S rRNA gene. Results confirm the presence of novel haemoplasma strains in bathyergid species from South Africa and emphasise the need for expanded studies on haemoplama prevalence, diversity, and transmission routes in other small mammal species from this biodiverse region.

Bovines Harbor a Diverse Array of Vector-Borne Pathogens in Northeast Algeria

Arthropod-borne hemoparasites represent a serious health problem in livestock, causing significant production losses. Currently, the evidence of Anaplasma spp., Theileria spp., Babesia spp., and hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. in Algeria remains limited to a few scattered geographical regions. In this work, our objectives were to study the prevalence of these vector-borne pathogens and to search other agents not yet described in Algeria as well as the identification of statistical associations with various risk factors in cattle in the northeast of Algeria. Among the 205 cattle blood samples tested by PCR analysis, 42.4% positive results were obtained for at least one pathogen. The overall rates of Anaplasma spp., Theileria/Babesia spp., and Mycoplasma spp. in the cattle sampled were respectively 30.7%, 18.5%, and 2.9%; co-infections with multiple species was also detected. Anaplasma spp. and Theileria/Babesia spp. were detected at a higher rate in cattle under 3 years old, according to univariate analysis. Anaplasma spp. DNA was detected more frequently in our sample in cattle living in semi extensive farming. Our study provides additional data about Anaplasma spp., Theileria/Babesia spp. and reveals for the first time that Mycoplasma wenyonii and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma hemobos are present in cattle in Northeast Algeria.

Review of clinical aspects, epidemiology and diagnosis of haemotropic Mycoplasma ovis in small ruminants: current status and future perspectives in tropics focusing on Malaysia

Mycoplasma ovis (formerly Eperythrozoon ovis) is an epierythrocytic parasitic bacterium of small ruminants known as haemotropic mycoplasma, which is transmitted mechanically by biting flies and contaminated instruments. Acute mycoplasmosis causes severe haemolytic anaemia and mortality in young animals. At the same time, chronic disease may produce mild anaemia and varying degrees of morbidity depending on several factors, including age, reproductive status, the plane of nutrition, immunological status and the presence of concurrent infection. Haemotropic Mycoplasma ovis is currently recognised as an emerging zoonotic pathogen which is widely distributed in the sheep and goat producing areas of tropics and subtropics, where the disease is nearly endemic. Human infection has been reported in pregnant women, immunocompromised patients and people exposed to animals and arthropods. The current diagnosis of haemoplasma relies on microscopic evaluation of Giemsa-stained blood smear and PCR. Although there are few published reports on the incidence of haemotropic Mycoplasma ovis infection of small ruminants in Malaysia, information on its prevalence, risk factors, severity and economic impacts is grossly inadequate. Therefore, a large-scale survey of small ruminant flocks is necessary to elucidate the current seroprevalence status and molecular characteristics of haemotropic M. ovis infection in Malaysia using ELISA and PCR sequencing technologies. In the future, surveillance programs, including vector forecast, quarantine, monitoring by periodic surveys and public enlightenment, will limit the internal and transboundary spread of M. ovis, enhance control efforts and mitigate production losses in Malaysia.

Molecular survey of tick-borne pathogens infecting backyard cattle and water buffaloes in Quezon province, Philippines

Tick-borne diseases (TBD) cause enormous losses for farmers. Backyard raising comprises majority of the livestock population in the Philippines, but TBD information in backyard livestock is scarce. In this study, 48 cattle and 114 water buffalo samples from Quezon province, Philippines were molecularly screened for tick-borne pathogens. Anaplasma marginale (16.67%) and hemoplasma (20.99%) were detected in the samples. A. marginale infection (P=0.0001) was significantly higher in cattle, while hemoplasma infection (P=0.011) was significantly higher in water buffaloes. A. marginale isolates from this study were highly similar to previous isolates from the Philippines while Mycoplasma wenyonii and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos were the identified hemoplasma species. Our findings reveal additional information on the TBD situation of Philippine backyard livestock.