1. 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemosphiggurus' a novel haemoplasma species in orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupines (Sphiggurus villosus) from Southern Brazil.
- Author
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Valente JDM, Saldanha A, Martini R, Lange RR, Baggio RA, Martins TF, Dos Santos LP, de Sousa RS, Vieira TSWJ, and Vieira RFC
- Subjects
- Animals, Brazil, Female, Ixodidae growth & development, Larva growth & development, Larva microbiology, Male, Mycoplasma classification, Mycoplasma Infections microbiology, Nymph growth & development, Nymph microbiology, Tick Infestations parasitology, Ixodidae microbiology, Mycoplasma isolation & purification, Mycoplasma Infections veterinary, Porcupines, Tick Infestations veterinary
- Abstract
In Brazil, the orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine (Sphiggurus villosus) is widely distributed in the Atlantic Rainforest biome being amongst the most frequently road-killed animal. Porcupines may also be commonly found on forest borders and occasionally, near urban areas where human and domestic dogs injuries caused by its spines may occur. Therefore, the aims of this study were (a) to screen porcupines for TBD pathogens and haemoplasmas and (b) to identify the tick species parasitizing these rodents in Paraná State, southern Brazil. Blood and/or spleen samples were collected from nine orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupines. A total of 275 ticks (34 males, 11 females, 7 nymphs and 223 larvae) were collected from eight porcupines: Amblyomma longirostre, A. parkeri and Amblyomma spp. larvae. Two out of nine (22%; 95% CI: 3%-60%) porcupines were PCR-positive for haemoplasmas. All animals tested negative for Theileria/Babesia spp. and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp. by PCR. Phylogenetic and network analysis of the 16S and 23S rRNA gene fragments confirmed that animals were infected by a potentially novel haemotropic Mycoplasma sp. The name 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemosphiggurus' is proposed for this novel organism that should be further fully characterized., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)
- Published
- 2021
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