Molecular Survey of Hemotropic <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. and <i>Bartonella</i> spp. in Coatis (<i>Nasua nasua</i>) from Central-Western Brazil

Even though previous works showed molecular evidence of hemotropic <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. (hemoplasmas) in ring-tailed coatis (<i>Nasua nasua</i>) from Brazil, <i>Bartonella</i> sp. has not been reported in these mammals so far. The present study aimed to detect t...

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Main Authors: Lívia Perles, Wanessa Teixeira Gomes Barreto, Filipe Martins Santos, Leidiane Lima Duarte, Gabriel Carvalho de Macedo, Darci Moraes Barros-Battesti, Heitor Miraglia Herrera, Rosangela Zacarias Machado, Marcos Rogério André
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-03-01
Series:Pathogens
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/4/538
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Summary:Even though previous works showed molecular evidence of hemotropic <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. (hemoplasmas) in ring-tailed coatis (<i>Nasua nasua</i>) from Brazil, <i>Bartonella</i> sp. has not been reported in these mammals so far. The present study aimed to detect the above-mentioned agents in coatis’ blood and associated ectoparasites, assessing the association between these infections and red blood parameters. Between March 2018 and January 2019, coati (n = 97) blood samples, <i>Amblyomma</i> sp. ticks (2242 individual ticks, resulting in 265 pools), and <i>Neotrichodectes pallidus</i> louse (n = 59) were collected in forested urban areas from midwestern Brazil. DNA extracted from coatis’ blood, and ectoparasite samples were submitted to quantitative PCR (qPCR) (16S rRNA) and conventional PCR (cPCR) (16S rRNA and 23S rRNA) for hemoplasmas and qPCR (<i>nuoG</i> gene) and culturing (only blood) for <i>Bartonella</i> spp. Two different hemoplasma genotypes were detected in blood samples: 71% coatis positive for myc1 and 17% positive for myc2. While 10% of ticks were positive for hemoplasmas (myc1), no louse was positive. The estimated bacterial load of hemoplasmas showed no association with anemia indicators. All coatis were negative for <i>Bartonella</i> sp. in qPCR assay and culturing, albeit two <i>Amblyomma</i> sp. larvae pools, and 2 <i>A. dubitatum</i> nymph pools were positive in the qPCR. The present work showed a high occurrence of hemoplasmas, with two distinct hemoplasma genotypes, in coatis from forested urban areas in midwestern Brazil.
ISSN:2076-0817