A rare case of equine Haemotropic Mycoplasma infection in Nigeria

Equine haemotropic mycoplasmosis (EHM) is a condition rarely reported worldwide. A horse presented with unspecific clinical findings and non-response to treatment the common endemic haemoparasitic bacterial infections, warranted thorough molecular investigation of suspected infection given fluctuating parasitaemia low sensitivity specificity Light Microscopy (LM) detection infections. Blood collected from an adult horse, domiciled at University Ibadan Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria was screened by LM PCR techniques for haemo-parasites. The 16S rRNA gene pan-Hemoplasma spp targeted amplified sequenced using Sanger automatic sequencing techniques. This case shows very first evidence EHM in Africa Nigeria, third World. Microscopic examination horse’s blood smear signs lethargy, inactivity, anorexia moderate emaciation, showed numerous coccoid-shaped epierythrocytic parasites. Subsequent sequence data phylogenetic analyses confirmed presence mycoplasma (‘Candidatus M. haemocervae’–like) horse. hemoplasma obtained falls same clade some Candidatus Mycoplasma haemocervae sequences which it shared more than 98.7% homology. finding suggests that horses this geographical region may also be suffering calls need epidemiological surveillance equine hemoplasmosis emphasis on their clinical, economic, performance zoonotic implications sub-region.
 Keywords: Horse, Haemotropic mycoplasma, ‘Candidatus haemocervae’–like