Molecular evidence of hemoplasmas in Malaysian cattle and ticks
- Author:
Mohd Hasan, L.I.
;
Kho, K.L.
;
Koh, F.X.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Tropical Biomedicine
2017;34(3):668-674
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Hemotrophic mycoplasma (hemoplasmas) is a cell wall-less bacterium causing
infectious anemia in animals. As data on hemoplasmas infecting cattle in Malaysia is scarce,
specific polymerase chain reaction assays were used for detection of hemoplasmas from
blood samples of cattle and ticks in this study. Hemoplasma DNA was detected in 69 (69.0%)
of 100 cattle blood samples obtained from different breeds. A total of 50.0% of the cattle in
this study were infected with only Mycoplasma wenyonii, while 2.0% were infected with
only Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos and 17% were infected with both species. Based on
sequence analysis of the partial or nearly full length sequences of hemoplasma 16S rRNA
gene, the presence of M. wenyonii and Candidatus M. haemobos was confirmed. Hemoplasmapositive
cattle of less than three years appeared to have higher infection rate compared to
other age groups. M. wenyonii was identified for the first time in approximately 30% of cattle
ticks (Rhipicephalus microplus and Haemaphysalis sp.) in this study. This study presents the
first molecular evidence of hemoplasmas in Malaysian cattle and ticks.
