You are on page 1of 25

Accepted Manuscript

Title: High diversity of hemotropic mycoplasmas in Iberian


wild carnivores

Authors: Javier Millán, Roser Velarde, Verónica Delicado,


Nieves Negre, Alexis Ribas, Álvaro Oleaga, Luis Llaneza,
Fernando Esperón

PII: S0147-9571(18)30064-X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2018.09.007
Reference: CIMID 1206

To appear in:

Received date: 22-4-2018


Revised date: 14-8-2018
Accepted date: 10-9-2018

Please cite this article as: Millán J, Velarde R, Delicado V, Negre N, Ribas A, Oleaga
Á, Llaneza L, Esperón F, High diversity of hemotropic mycoplasmas in Iberian wild
carnivores, Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (2018),
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2018.09.007

This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication.
As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript.
The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof
before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process
errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that
apply to the journal pertain.
High diversity of hemotropic mycoplasmas in Iberian wild carnivores

Running title Hemoplasma diversity in Iberian carnivores

T
Javier Millán1, Roser Velarde2, Verónica Delicado3, Nieves Negre4, Alexis Ribas5, 6, Álvaro

IP
Oleaga7, Luis Llaneza8, 9 Fernando Esperón3

R
SC
1 Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, República 252, Santiago, Chile

2 Servicio de Ecopatología de Fauna Salvaje (SEFaS, Wildlife Diseases Research Group),

U
Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193,
N
Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
A

3
M

Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), Valdeolmos, Spain

4 Fundació Natura Parc, 07142 Santa Eugènia (Balearic Islands), Spain


ED

5 Section of Parasitology, Department of Biology, Healthcare and the Environment, Faculty

of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. de Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028
PT

Barcelona, Spain
E

6 Museu de Ciències Naturals de Granollers, 08402 Granollers, Barcelona, Spain


CC

7 SERPA, Sociedad de Servicios del Principado de Asturias S.A., 33203 Gijón, Asturias, Spain

8 A.RE.NA. Asesores en Recursos Naturales SL, Perpetuo Socorro 12-Entresuelo 2B, 27003,
A

Lugo, Spain

9 Departamento de Bioloxía Celular e Ecoloxía, Facultade de Bioloxía. University of Santiago

de Compostela. Campus Sur, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

1
Corresponding author

Javier Millán

Email address: syngamustrachea@hotmail.com

Phone number: (+56) 227703546

T
Fax number: (+56) 227703000

R IP
Highlights

SC
 Fourteen hemoplasma genotypes were detected in 231 wild carnivores of 10

species.

 U
Detected in wolf, red fox, badger, pine and stone marten, weasel, wildcat and
N
genet.
A

 Four genotypes showed 98-100% identity with species from domestic carnivores.
M

 Four were related to genotypes reported from Japanese badgers and American
ED

raccoons.

 Three were 99-100% similar to two different sequences from Spanish bats.
E PT
CC
A

2
Abstract

Two-hundred and thirty-one wild carnivores belonging to 10 species of in Spain were

analyzed for the presence of DNA of hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) by means of

a universal real-time PCR targeting a 16S rRNA gene fragment. Positive reactions were found

T
for wolf (Canis lupus: 6/37), fox (Vulpes vulpes: 1/41), Eurasian badger (Meles meles: 49/85),

IP
pine marten (Martes martes: 11/23), stone marten (Martes foina: 6/9), least weasel

R
(Mustela nivalis: 4/4), European wildcat (Felis s. silvestris: 1/2) and common genet (Genetta

SC
genetta: 7/27). Sixty-four readable sequences were obtained, resulting in 14 nucleotide

sequence types (ntST). The highest diversity was detected in badger (6 ntST) and pine marten

U
(5 ntST). The sequencing of a fragment of the RNase P gene showed that all positive reactions
N
in wolves corresponded to Mycoplasma haemocanis. Three ntST showed an identity
A

between 98-100% with Candidatus M. haemominutum, C. M. turicensis and C. M.


M

haematoparvum, respectively. Four ntST were closely related to C. M. haemomeles and/or


ED

diverse genotypes reported from raccoons (Procyon lotor) in the USA. One ntST from a

badger showed only 88% similarity to the closest published sequence and was
PT

phylogenetically unrelated to any other hemoplasma sequence reported. Three ntST were
E

99-100% similar to two different sequences reported in Spanish bats. This study confirms the
CC

widespread nature and the high genetic diversity of hemoplasma infection in carnivores.

Wild carnivores might be natural hosts of some hemoplasmas infecting dogs and cats.
A

Keywords: Carnivora; Haemobartonella; Mycoplasma; shared diseases; reservoir.

3
1. Introduction

Increasing evidence indicates that wild carnivores are epidemiologically relevant from the

veterinary and zoonotic point of view for several reasons. First, they have a close

phylogenetic relationship with the dog and the cat, which favors intra-species transmission

T
of disease agents. Thus wild carnivores can act as pathogen reservoirs for dogs and cats

IP
(Shock et al. 2010, Cardoso et al. 2013), but in turn the viability of their populations can also

R
be menaced by pathogens maintained by their widespread domestic counterparts (Thorne

SC
and Williams, 1988). Second, some wild carnivores show an anthropophilic behavior, which

facilitates pathogen transmission to humans and their pets (Reperant et al. 2007). Carnivores

U
are well-known reservoirs of important zoonoses such as rabies or baylisacariosis (Pastoret
N
and Brochier 1999, Bauer 2013). Carnivores can also serve as sentinels of environmental
A

contamination with pathogens due to their position on the top of the trophic chain (Millán
M

et al. 2009).
ED

The Iberian Peninsula, located in the southwest of the European subcontinent, is rich in

diversity and abundance of terrestrial carnivores. As many as sixteen native species inhabit
PT

the territory (Palomo et al. 2007) and at least three more have been introduced (Capdevila-
E

Argüelles et al. 2006). In the last few years important efforts have been made to describe
CC

the potential role of these species in the epidemiology of pathogens of veterinary and public

health (Sobrino et al. 2007, 2008a, 2008b, Millán et al. 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, Duarte et al.
A

2013).

Hemoplasmas are unculturable, cell wall-less bacteria that reside on the surface of

erythrocytes of mammals (Sykes and Tasker 2014). Thus far five hemoplasma species have

been described in carnivores: Mycoplasma haemocanis (Mhc) is considered to be the

4
causative agent of hemotrophic mycoplasmosis in dogs; Candidatus Mycoplasma

haematoparvum (CMhp) was first isolated from a splenectomized dog with hemic neoplasia;

Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), previously referred to as Haemobartonella felis large variant,

is the causative agent of feline infectious anemia; Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum

T
(CMhm), previously considered the small variant of H. felis, usually causes subclinical

IP
infections in cats; and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (CMt) was described in a cat with

R
hemolytic anemia (Sykes and Tasker 2014). In wildlife, hemoplasma infections have been

SC
detected in a range of free-living felids worlwide (Willi et al., 2007a; Hirata et al., 2012;

Krengel et al., 2013); limited information is available on other taxa of free-living carnivores.

U
In recent years the DNA of diverse hemoplasma species or haplotypes has been reported
N
from a number of species in Japan (Sasaki et al., 2008, Iso et al. 2013, Harasawa et al. 2014)
A

and Brazil (de Sousa et al. 2017), Darwin’s fox (Lycalopex fulvipes) in Chile (Cabello et al.
M

2013), Artic fox (Vulpes lagopus) in Canada (Mascarelli et al. 2015), raccoon (Procyon lotor)
ED

in the USA (Volokhov et al. 2017), and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Slovakia (Koneval et al. 2017).

Information about hemoplasma infection in wild carnivores in Spain other than the
PT

Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) (Willi et al., 2005) is inexistent. We aimed to provide for the first
E

time preliminary information about the diversity of hemoplasmas infecting Iberian wild
CC

carnivores.
A

2. Materials and Methods

A total of 231 wild carnivores belonging to 10 species of four families were included in the

present survey (Table 1). These animals were sampled from 1993 to 2014 during different

surveillance programs, procedures in rehabilitation centers and ecological studies carried

5
out in four different regions of northern Spain: Asturias, Galicia, Catalonia and the Balearic

island of Mallorca (Figure 1, Table 1). Wolves (Canis lupus) were sampled in Asturias (n=24)

and Galicia (n=13); common genets (Genetta genetta), pine martens (Martes martes) and

least weasels (Mustela nivalis) in Catalonia (n=21, 1, and 2, respectively) and Mallorca (n=5,

T
22, and 2, respectively); the rest of the species were sampled only in Catalonia (Table 1). A

IP
piece of spleen was obtained from animals sampled post-mortem (origin: road-killed or

R
legally shot); whole blood was obtained from wild-caught individuals and kept in EDTA tubes.

SC
Samples were frozen at -20° until analyses.

DNA extraction of homogenized samples was performed with a pressure filtration method

U
(QuickGene® DNA tissue kit S, Fujifilm Life Science, Tokyo, Japan). A universal real-time PCR
N
using Sybr Green and targeting approximately 380 bp of the 16S rRNA gene was performed
A

to detect Mycoplasma spp. as previously reported (Cabello et al. 2013). Amplicons were
M

purified using ExoSAP-IT© PCR Product Cleanup (Thermo Fisher Scientific), and then Sanger-
ED

sequenced with both primers to obtain a consensus sequence.

We conducted a BLAST© search to compare sequenced products with sequences


PT

described in GenBank database (Altschul et al. 1990 )for hemotropic mycoplasmas. All
E

sequence alignments were obtained, and p-distances were calculated using MEGA version
CC

6.0. The new Mycoplasma 16S rRNA sequences were submitted to GenBank under accession

numbers MG196083-MG196096. Phylogenetic analysis was performed by a Maximum


A

likelihood tree based on the Tamura-Nei model. Reliability of the tree was tested by 1000

bootstrap replicates (MEGA 6.0; Tamuka et al. 2013).

Since the 16S rRNA gene of M. haemocanis has the same sequence as M. haemofelis,

we performed a second PCR protocol in the cases of samples showing 100% identity with

6
these species (hereafter called Mhc-like). A partial amplification of the RNA subunit of the

RNase P gene and sequencing was performed as previously described (Cabello et al., 2013).

3. Results

T
The observed prevalence ranged between 2% in foxes and 57% in badgers, considering only

IP
the species with a representative sample size (Table 1). Readable sequences were obtained

R
for 64 out of the 84 positive reactions (Table 1). These revealed the existence of fourteen

SC
nucleotide sequence types (ntST), composed by all sequences with a nucleotide identity of

100%. The highest diversity was detected in badger (6 different ntST) and pine marten (5

U
ntST). However, not all the ntST were equally prevalent, with many of them being found only
N
in a single individual. Some ntST were apparently typical of a given species, such as ntST-1 in
A

badger, ntST-3 in genet, ntST-4 in pine marten, ntST-12 in wolf and ntST-14 in weasel (Table
M

1). However, some of these and other ntSTs were found in different host species.
ED

ntST-1 was very prevalent in badgers, showing the highest nucleotide similarity with

hemoplasmas from raccoons in the USA. In wolves, all sequences (named ntST-12 in this
PT

study) were indentical to Mhc, and this identification was confirmed by sequencing of the
E

portion of the RNase P gene: all obtained sequences were 100% identical among them, and
CC

also 100% identical with other Mhc sequences (AF407209, EU078618 and CP003199)

detected in dogs. ntST-6, found in three individuals of three different species of mustelid,
A

were indentical to CMhp. Two sequences (ntST-3 from genet and badger, and ntST-11 from

a wildcat) showed 99.3% and 99.7% similarity, respectively, with CMhm. Five ntST showed

the highest similarity with sequences reported from raccoons in the USA and/or C. M.

hemomeles from a Japanese badger. One ntST was identical, and other two ntST were ≈99%

7
similar, to two different sequences from Spanish bats. Finally, the only sequence from red

fox showed 98% similarity with CMt (see Table 2 for details).

The phylogram obtained confirmed that most of the ntST were phylogenetically

related to known hemoplasma species or genotypes, except for ntST-13, which was placed

T
alone in a branch and probably represents a novel species (Figure 2). Sequences from our

IP
study were placed in almost all the branches of the tree.

R
SC
4. Discussion

This is the first large-scale survey of hemoplasma infection on an assemblage of free-living

U
carnivores from the same geographic region. Our survey showed that infection with
N
hemoplasmas is a common feature in Iberian wild mammals, at least in the studied regions.
A

Most of the host-pathogen associations reported here are novel for the literature, including
M

those involving the wolf, the two species of martens, the weasel and the genet. Regarding
ED

the Eurasian badger, the literature only reports the detection of hemoplasma DNA in one

road-killed individual in Japan (Harawawa et al. 2014). The range of observed prevalences
PT

observed was wide and depended on the species but, with the exception of the red fox,
E

these ranged between 15% and 60%. Relatively high prevalence has been previously
CC

reported in other species, such as coatis (Nasua nasua) (de Sousa et al. 2017), raccoons

(Volokov et al. 2017) and Darwin’s foxes (Cabello et al. 2013). The low observed prevalence
A

observed for foxes is noteworthy, although the abovementioned survey in red foxes in

Slovakia also reported a low prevalence for this species: 4.5% (Koneval et al. 2017). However,

the prevalences observed in the present study are probably biased because many samples

8
belonged to road-killed animals in poor condition. In addition, not all the positive cases were

successfully sequenced (see below) and thus might not be true hemoplasmal amplicons.

In concordance with previous studies, we also found high molecular diversity of

hemoplasmas in some species of carnivores (Cabello et al. 2013, de Sousa et al. 2017,

T
Volokhov et al. 2017). It should be mentioned that diversity may be higher than that detected

IP
in our study because our methodology does not detect coinfections, and previous studies in

R
wild carnivores have shown that this is a common feature (Volokhov et al. 2017). Only three

SC
of the ntST were identical to sequences previously described, and the others showed a

similarity between 88-99.7%. Sequencing of two gene fragments showed that all the wolves

U
were infected with Mhc. This finding is not surprising, since both the dog and the wolf are
N
closely related. Similarly, the sequence identified in the European wildcat, which belongs to
A

the same species as the domestic cat, was almost identical to CMhm, a cat pathogen.
M

Interestingly, most of the positive cases in European wildcats in the study by Willi et al.
ED

(2005b) were caused by this hemoplasma species. In addition, ntST-3, the most prevalent

variant in genet and found in one badger as well, also showed high similarity with CMhm.
PT

This raises the hypothesis that CMhm may have its natural host in some of these European
E

carnivores. Two ntST detected in mustelids were identical or closely related to CMhp. CMhp
CC

is a little-known pathogen of dogs, for which prevalence among Spanish dogs was 2%

according to Novacco et al. (2010). Interspecific transmission of this bacterium may be taking
A

place between dogs and wildlife. It remains to be elucidated which is the natural host and

which is the spill-over host.

The high richness of ntST detected in badgers is noteworthy. However, this was the

species best represented in the sample, which could increase the chances of detecting

9
different variants. Alternatively, the social behavior of this species may favour interspecies

transmission of the pathogen. Four of these ntST were also found in other host species. ntST-

5 was closely related to C. M. hemomeles, previously detected in a Japanese badger

(Harasawa et al. 2014) and may represent a true hemoplasma of badgers. However, this ntST

T
was infrequent. In contrast, ntST-1 accounted for 80% of the readable sequences in this

IP
species. This variant was closely related to raccoon hemoplasma genotype 6 (Volokhov et al.

R
2017) found in North America. The four remaining ntST found in badgers were infrequent

SC
and some of them were shared with other species (see below); we hypothesize that these

cases might be the result of spill-overs from other species. Intriguingly, ntST-13 was only 88%

U
similar to the closest published sequence and did not classify into any clade containing other
N
hemoplasma sequences deposited in GenBank. This sequence could belong to a new
A

hemoplasma species; however, larger sequences of 16S rRNA and/or the sequencing of
M

other reference genes are required to confirm this hypothesis.


ED

Remarkably, five different ntST were confirmed in just 22 pine martens sampled in the

island of Mallorca. Of these, ntST-1 and ntST-6 were shared with individuals from other
PT

species sampled in peninsular Spain. Similarly, the weasels from Catalonia and Mallorca
E

shared the same ntST. The ntST detected in the red fox was highly related to CMt, and the
CC

phyologentic analysis assigned it to the CMt group. In concordance with our results, most of

the infected foxes in Slovakia revealed the presence of sequences closely related to CMt
A

(Koneval et al. 2107). The role of this abundant and widespread carnivore in the

epidemiology of CMt deserves further attention.

Three sequences showed the highest similarity with hemoplasmas previously

described in bats from Spain. ntST2-2 was 100% identical to a sequence reported from

10
Miniopterus schreibersii (Millán et al. 2015), and together with ntST-9 were phylogenetically

classified in a clade with C. M. hemohominis, a hemoplasma reported from a human patient

(Steer et al. 2011). ntST-8 was also closely related to a different sequence from M. schrebesii,

tentatively named C. M. hemominiopterus, as reported by Millán et al. (2015). These may be

T
cases of spill-over from bats to carnivores. In cats experimentally infected with CMt, infection

IP
can be transmitted by ingestion of blood, and the biting animal is most at risk for acquisition

R
of infection (Museux et al. 2009). Therefore, carnivores might have become infected through

SC
carnivory.

The mode of hemoplasma transmission has not been clarified. It is believed that it is

U
a vector-borne pathogen, but evidence for this is weak (Willi et al. 2007a). Some feline
N
hemoplasmas might be transmitted through social interactions (Sykes and Tasker 2014). For
A

Mhc, a role of the tick Rh. sanguineus as potential vector has been proposed based on
M

indirect evidence. For example, because infection is more prevalent in Mediterranean


ED

countries, which follows the distribution of this tick species (Novacco et al. 2010), or because

most Swiss positive dogs have travelled to countries were this tick is endemic (Wengi et al.
PT

2007). However, in Asturias and Galicia, no Rh. sanguineus was retrieved from any wolf or
E

fox; Ixodes ricinus and other Ixodes spp. were the predominant species detected in wild
CC

canines there (Sobrino et al. 2012). Therefore, it seems unlikely that Rh. sanguineus is the

vector of Mhc in Atlantic Spain. Similarly, no ticks infest canines in Chiloé Island (southern
A

Chile), where Mhc was very prevalent in Darwin’s foxes (Cabello et al. 2013). Therefore, if

hemoplasmas can be transmitted by ticks, species other than Rh. sanguineus should act as a

vector in temperate-cold areas. In Catalonia, only two Rh. sanguineus ticks were found in 59

wild carnivores surveyed in that study (Millán et al. 2016). However, Rh. turanicus was the

11
most abundant species retrieved from wild carnivores, and it has been proposed that Rh.

turanicus in the Iberian Peninsula correspond to Rh. sanguineus sensu lato (Dantas-Torres et

al. 2017). There is no information available about ectoparasites of wild carnivores in

Mallorca.

T
In summary, our study expands markedly the host range and the known genetic variability

IP
of hemotropic mycoplasmas of carnivores. Further studies must address the many questions

R
that remain open after our work, such as the full characterization of potential new species,

SC
the spatial and host range of hemotropic mycoplasmas, their way of transmission, the role

of some wild species as natural hosts of some of the species affecting domestic carnivores

U
and the potential detrimental effect of hemoplasma infection in wild carnivores’ health.
N
A

Acknowledgements
M

This study was partially funded by project CGL2010-17931. We are thankful to the regional
ED

government of Principado de Asturias (in the framework of its Wildlife Sanitary Surveillance

Program), Govern de les Illes Balears, Generalitat de Catalunya (Departament d’Agricultura,


PT

Ramaderia, Pesca i Alimentació), and Xunta de Galicia for the cession of samples. We wish
E

to thank V. Nogal and E. Neves for their laboratory assistance, and R. Mas, A. Rodríguez, J.V.
CC

López-Bao, V. Palacios, E.J. García and A. Arrizabalaga for helping in the collection of samples.

We are especially thankful to Luis Javier Palomo for allowing us to use the beautiful drawings
A

by Jordi Mateos from the “Atlas y Libro Rojo de los Mamíferos Terrestres de España”, edited

by Dirección General para la Biodiversidad-SECEM-SECEMU.

References

12
1. Altschul SF, Gish W, Miller W, Myers EW, Lipman DJ. 1990. Basic local alignment

search tool. J Mol Biol. 215:403-410.

2. Bauer, C., 2013. Baylisascariosis-infections of animals and humans with 'unusual'

roundworms. Vet. Parasitol. 193, 404–412.

T
3. Cabello, J., Altet, L., Napolitano, C., Sastre, N., Hidalgo, E., Dávila, J.A., Millán, J., 2013.

IP
Survey of infectious agents in the endangered Darwin's fox (Lycalopex fulvipes): high

R
prevalence and diversity of hemotrophic mycoplasmas. Vet. Microbiol. 167, 448–454.

SC
4. Capdevila-Argüelles, L., Iglesias, A., Orueta, J.F., Zelletti, B., 2006. Especies exóticas

invasoras: diagnóstico y bases para la prevención y el manejo. Organismo Autónomo

U
de Parques Nacionales, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Madrid. 287 pp.
N
5. Cardoso, L., Cortes, H.C., Reis, A., Rodrigues, P., Simões, M., Lopes, A.P., Vila-Viçosa,
A

M.J., Talmi-Frank, D., Eyal, O., Solano-Gallego, L., Baneth, G., 2013. Prevalence of
M

Babesia microti-like infection in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Portugal. Vet.
ED

Parasitol. 196, 90–95.

6. Dantas-Torres, F., Maia, C., Latrofa, M.S., Annoscia, G., Cardoso, L., Otranto, D., 2017
PT

Genetic characterization of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato) ticks from dogs in


E

Portugal. Parasit Vectors. 10, 133.


CC

7. de Sousa, K.C.M., Herrera, H.M., Secato, C.T., do Vale Oliveira, A., Santos, F.M.,

Rocha, F.L., Costa, M.T., 2017. Occurrence and molecular characterization of


A

hemoplasmas in domestic dogs and wild mammals in a Brazilian wetland. Acta

Tropica 171, 172–181.

8. Duarte, M.D., Henriques, A.M., Barros, S.C., Fagulha, T., Mendonça, P., Carvalho, P.,

Monteiro, M., Fevereiro, M., Basto, M.P., Rosalino, L.M., Barros, T., Bandeira, V.,

13
Fonseca, C., Cunha, M.V., 2013. Snapshot of viral infections in wild carnivores reveals

ubiquity of parvovirus and susceptibility of Egyptian mongoose to feline

panleukopenia virus. PLoS One 8, e59399.

9. Harasawa, R., Orusa, R., Giangaspero, M., 2014. Molecular evidence for hemotropic

T
Mycoplasma infection in a Japanese badger (Meles meles anakuma) and a raccoon

IP
dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus). J. Wildl. Dis. 50, 412–415.

R
10. Hirata, M., Tateno, M., Sakuma, M., Nakanishi, N., Izawa, M., Asari, Y., Okamura, M.,

SC
Shimokawa Miyama, T., Setoguchi, A., Endo, Y., 2012. An epidemiological survey of

hemoplasma infection in Iriomote cats (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis). J. Vet.

Med. Sci. 74, 1531–1537. U


N
11. Iso, T., Suzuki, J., Sasaoka, F., Sashida, H., Watanabe, Y., Fujihara, M., Nagai, K.,
A

Harasawa, R., 2013. Hemotropic mycoplasma infection in wild black bears (Ursus
M

thibetanus japonicus). Vet. Microbiol. 163, 184–189.


ED

12. Krengel, A., Meli, M.L., Cattori, V., Wachter, B., Willi, B., Thalwitzer, S., Melzheimer,

J., Hofer, H., Lutz, H., Hofmann-Lehmann, R., 2013. First evidence of hemoplasma
PT

infection in free-ranging Namibian cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Vet. Microbiol. 162,


E

972–976.
CC

13. Koneval, M., Miterpáková, M., Hurníková, Z., Blaňarová, L., Víchová, B., 2017.

Neglected intravascular pathogens, Babesia vulpes and haemotropic Mycoplasma


A

spp. in European red fox (Vulpes vulpes) population. Vet. Parasitol. 243, 176–182.

14. Mascarelli, P.E., Elmore, S.A., Jenkins, E.J., Alisauskas, R.T., Walsh, M., Breitschwerdt,

E.B., Maggi, R.G., 2015. Vector-borne pathogens in arctic foxes, Vulpes lagopus, from

Canada. Res. Vet. Sci. 99, 58–59.

14
15. Millán, J., Candela, M.G., López-Bao, J.V., Pereira, M., Jiménez, M.A., León-Vizcaíno,

L. 2009. Leptospirosis in wild and domestic carnivores in natural areas in Andalusia,

Spain. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 9, 549-554.

16. Millán, J., Sobrino, R., Rodríguez, A., Oleaga, A., Gortazar, C., Schares G., 2012. Large-

T
scale serosurvey of Besnoitia besnoiti in free-living carnivores in Spain. Vet. Parasitol.

IP
190, 241–245.

R
17. Millán, J., García, E.J., Oleaga, Á., López-Bao, J.V., Llaneza, L., Palacios, V., Candela,

SC
M.G., Cevidanes, A., Rodríguez, A., León-Vizcaíno, L., 2014. Using a top predator as a

sentinel for environmental contamination with pathogenic bacteria: the Iberian wolf

U
and leptospires. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz 109, 1041–1044.
N
18. Millán, J., López-Roig, M., Delicado, V., Serra-Cobo, J., Esperón, F., 2015. Widespread
A

infection with hemotropic mycoplasmas in bats in Spain, including a hemoplasma


M

closely related to "Candidatus Mycoplasma hemohominis". Comp. Immunol.


ED

Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 39, 9–12.

19. Millán, J., Proboste, T., Fernández de Mera, I.G., Chirife, A.D., de la Fuente, J., Altet,
PT

L., 2016. Molecular detection of vector-borne pathogens in wild and domestic


E

carnivores and their ticks at the human-wildlife interface. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 7, 284–
CC

290.

20. Museux, K., Boretti, F.S., Willi, B., Riond, B., Hoelzle, K., Hoelzle, L.E., Wittenbrink,
A

M.M., Tasker, S., Wengi, N., Reusch, C.E., Lutz, H., Hofmann-Lehmann, R., 2009. In

vivo transmission studies of 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis' in the domestic cat.

Vet. Res. 40, 45.

15
21. Novacco, M., Meli, M.L., Gentilini, F., Marsilio, F., Ceci, C., Pennisi, M.G., Lombardo,

G., Lloret, A., Santos, L., Carrapiço, T., Willi, B., Wolf, G., Lutz, H., Hofmann-Lehmann,

R., 2010. Prevalence and geographical distribution of canine hemotropic mycoplasma

infections in Mediterranean countries and analysis of risk factors for infection. Vet.

T
Microbiol. 142, 276–284.

IP
22. Palomo, L. J., Gisbert, J. y Blanco, J.C., 2007. Atlas y Libro Rojo de los Mamíferos

R
Terrestres de España. Dirección General para la Biodiversidad-SECEM-SECEMU,

SC
Madrid, 588 pp.

23. Pastoret, P.P., Brochier, B., 1999. Epidemiology and control of fox rabies in Europe.

Vaccine 17, 1750–1754 U


N
24. Reperant, L.A., Hegglin, D., Fischer, C., Kohler, L., Weber, J.M., Deplazes, P., 2007.
A

Influence of urbanization on the epidemiology of intestinal helminths of the red fox


M

(Vulpes vulpes) in Geneva, Switzerland. Parasitol. Res. 101, 605–611.


ED

25. Sasaki, M., Ohta, K., Matsuu, A., Hirata, H., Ikadai, H., Oyamada, T., 2008. A molecular

survey of Mycoplasma haemocanis in dogs and foxes in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. J.


PT

Protozool. Res. 18, 57–60


E

26. Shock, B.C., Murphy, S.M., Patton, L.L., Shock, P.M., Olfenbuttel, C., Beringer, J.,
CC

Prange, S., Grove, D.M., Peek, M., Butfiloski, J.W., Hughes, D.W., Lockhart, J.M.,

Bevins, S.N., VandeWoude, S., Crooks, K.R., Nettles, V.F., Brown, H.M., Peterson, D.S.,
A

Yabsley, M.J., 2011. Distribution and prevalence of Cytauxzoon felis in bobcats (Lynx

rufus), the natural reservoir, and other wild felids in thirteen states. Vet. Parasitol.

175, 325–330

16
27. Sobrino, R., Cabezón, O., Millán, J., Pabón, M., Arnal, M.C., Luco, D.F., Gortázar, C.,

Dubey, J.P., Almeria, S., 2007. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in

wild carnivores from Spain. Vet. Parasitol. 148, 187–192.

28. Sobrino, R., Ferroglio, E., Oleaga, A., Romano, A., Millan, J., Revilla, M., Arnal, M.C.,

T
Trisciuoglio, A., Gortázar, C., 2008. Characterization of widespread canine

IP
leishmaniasis among wild carnivores from Spain. Vet. Parasitol. 155, 198–203.

R
29. Sobrino, R., Dubey, J.P., Pabón, M., Linarez, N., Kwok, O.C., Millán, J., Arnal, M.C.,

SC
Luco, D.F., López-Gatius, F., Thulliez, P., Gortázar, C., Almería, S., 2008. Neospora

caninum antibodies in wild carnivores from Spain. Vet. Parasitol. 155, 190–197.

U
30. Sobrino, R., Millán, J., Oleaga, A., Gortázar, C., de la Fuente, J., Ruiz-Fons, F., 2012.
N
Ecological preferences of exophilic and endophilic ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitizing
A

wild carnivores in the Iberian Peninsula. Vet. Parasitol. 184, 248–57


M

31. Steer, J.A,, Tasker, S., Barker, E.N,, Jensen, J., Mitchell, J., Stocki, T., Chalker, V.J.,
ED

Hamon, M., 2011., A novel hemotropic Mycoplasma [hemoplasma] in a patient with

hemolytic anemia and pyrexia. Clin. Infect. Dis. 53, e147–51.


PT

32. Sykes, J.E., Tasker, S., 2014., Hemoplasma Infections, In: Sykes JE, editor. Canine and
E

Feline Infectious Diseases. Saint Louis: W.B. Saunders, p. 390-398.


CC

33. Tamura K1, Stecher G, Peterson D, Filipski A, Kumar S. 2013. MEGA6: Molecular

Evolutionary Genetics Analysis version 6.0. Mol Biol Evol. 30:2725-2729.


A

34. Taroura, S., Shimada, Y., Sakata, Y., Miyama, T., Hiraoka, H., Watanabe, M., Itamoto,

K., Okuda, M., Inokuma, H., 2005. Detection of DNA of ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma

haemominutum’ and Spiroplasma sp. in unfed ticks collected from vegetation in

Japan, J. Vet. Med. Sci. 67, 1277–1279

17
35. Volokhov, D.V., Hwang, J., Chizhikov, V.E., Danaceau, H., Gottdenker, N.L., 2017.

Prevalence, genotype richness, and coinfection patterns of hemotropic mycoplasmas

in raccoons (Procyon lotor) on environmentally protected and urbanized barrier

islands. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 83, e00211-17.

T
36. Wengi, N., Willi, B., Boretti, F.S., Cattori, V., Riond, B., Meli, M.L., Reusch, C.E., Lutz,

IP
H., Hofmann-Lehmann, R., 2008. Real-time PCR-based prevalence study, infection

R
follow-up and molecular characterization of canine hemotropic mycoplasmas. Vet.

SC
Microbiol. 126, 132–141.

37. Willi, B., Boretti, F.S., Meli, M.L., Bernasconi, M.V., Casati, S., Hegglin, D., et al., 2007a.

U
Real-time PCR investigation of potential vectors, reservoirs and shedding patterns of
N
feline hemotropic mycoplasmas. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73, 3798–3802.
A

38. Willi, B., Filoni, C., Catão-Dias, J.L., Cattori, V., Meli, M.L., Vargas, A., Martínez, F.,
M

Roelke, M.E., Ryser-Degiorgis, M.P., Leutenegger, C.M., Lutz, H., Hofmann-Lehmann,


ED

R., 2007b. Worldwide occurrence of feline hemoplasma infections in wild felid

species. J. Clin. Microbiol. 45, 1159–1166.


PT

39. Yang. B., Wang, Y., Qian, P.Y. 2016. Sensitivity and correlation of hypervariable
E

regions in 16S rRNA genes in phylogenetic analysis. BMC Bioinformatics. 17, 135.
CC
A

18
Legends to Figures

Figure 1. Map of peninsular Spain and the Balearic Islands, showing in grey the study areas,

and maps of the four regions studied, showing the species sampled in each region, the

observed prevalence and the nucleotide sequence types identified. Two species (American

T
and European mink) are not shown. Drawn by Jordi Mateos from the “Atlas y Libro Rojo de

IP
los Mamíferos Terrestres de España”, edited by Dirección General para la Biodiversidad-

R
SECEM-SECEMU, used with authorization.

SC
U
N
A
M
ED
E PT

Figure 2.
CC

Maximum likelihood phylogram of 40 haemotrophic mycoplasmas. Reliability of the tree was

tested by 1000 bootstrap replicates. The sequences from Genbank are expressed as follows:
A

Name of species; host species (Aa: Apodemus argenteus; Aj: Acinonyx jubatus; Bt: Bos taurus;

Clf: Canis lupus familiaris; Cls: Canis lupus signatus; Cn: Cervus nippon yesoensis; Fc: Felis

catus; Fcs: Felis catus silvestris; Gg: Genetta genetta; Hs: Homo sapiens; Mf: Martes foina;

Mfu: Macaca fuscata; Mm: Meles meles; Mmi: Micromys minutus; Mn: Mustela nivalis; Ms:

19
Miniopterus schreibersii; Oa: Ovis aries; Ov: Odocoileus virginianus; Pl: Procyon lotor; Ple:

Panthera leo; Rn: Rattus norvegicus; Sa: Sapajus apella; Ss: Sus Scrofa; Vp: Vicugna pacos;

Vv: Vulpes vulpes), country where it was detected, and Genbank Accession Number.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is included as outgroup.

T
R IP
SC
U
N
A
M
ED
E PT
CC
A

20
R I
SC
Table 1. Number of animals tested, observed prevalence (95% Confidence Intervals), and nucleotide sequence types of hemotropic

U
mycoplasmas detected in free-living carnivores in Spain.

N
Positive/ Prevalence Readable Nucleotide sequence types detected
Family/Species

A
tested (95% C.I.)* sequences
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

M
Suborder Caniformia

Family Canidae ED
Wolf (Canis lupus) 6/37 16.2% (6.2-32.0) 6 6

Fox (Vulpes vulpes) 1/41 2.5% (0.1-12.6) 1 1


PT

Family Mustelidae

Eurasian badger (Meles meles) 49/85 57.6% (46.4-68.3) 37 29 3 1 2 1 1


E

Pine marten (Martes martes) 11/23 47.8% (26.8-69.4) 9 2 5 1 1


CC

Stone marten (Martes foina) 6/9 n.c. 3 1 1 1

European mink (Mustela lutreola) 0/1 n.c. -

Least weasel (Mustela nivalis) 4/4 n.c. 2 2


A

American mink (Neovison vison) 0/2 n.c. -

Suborder Feliformia

Family Felidae

European wildcat (Felis s. silvestris) 1/2 n.c. 1 1

Family Viverridae

21
R I
SC
Common genet (Genetta genetta) 7/27 25.9% (2.4-29.2) 5 4 1

U
Overall 84/231 36.3% (30.1-42.9) 64 31 4 5 5 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 2

*n.c.: not calculated (prevalence and confidence intervals were only calculated for samples sizes>20).

N
A
M
ED
E PT
CC
A

22
R I
SC
Table 2. Genotypes of hemotropic mycoplasmas detected in Iberian carnivores.

U
ntST Detected in GenBank Accession Highest nucleotide similarity Identity (%)

N
Number
1 Pine marten, badger MG196083 Mycoplasma sp. (genotype 6)/Raccoon/USA/KF743733 99.0

A
2 Stone marten, badger MG196084 Mycoplasma sp./Bat/Spain/KM538695 100

M
3 Genet, badger MG196085 Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum/Cat/Brazil/KM275255 99.3

4 Pine marten
ED MG196086 Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum/Dog/Spain/GQ129114 99.0

5 Badger MG196087 Candidatus Mycoplasma haemomeles/Badger/Japan/AB848713 98.3


PT

Mycoplasma sp. (genotype 2)/Raccoon/USA/KF743729 98.3


6 Stone marten, pine MG196088 Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum/Dog/Spain/GQ129114 100
E

marten, badger
CC

7 Stone marten MG196089 Mycoplasma sp. (genotype 5)/Raccoon/USA/KF743734 98.3

8 Pine marten MG196090 Candidatus Mycoplasma hemominiopterus/Bat/Spain/ 98.7


A

KM538694
9 Genet MG196091 Mycoplasma sp./Bat/Spain/KM538695 99.3

10 Red fox MG196092 Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis/Lion/Tanzania/DQ825454 98.0

11 Wildcat MG196093 Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum/Cat/USA/FJ004275 99.7

23
R I
SC
12 Wolf MG196094 Mycoplasma haemocanis/Dog/Brazil/KP715859 100

U
13 Badger MG196095 Mycoplasma sp. (genotype 6)/Raccoon/USA/KF743733 88.3

N
14 Least weasel MG196096 Mycoplasma sp. (genotype 2)/Raccoon/USA/KF743729 99.3

A
M
ED
E PT
CC
A

24

You might also like