The hemoplasmas are the trivial name for a group of erythrocyte-parasitizing, non-cultivable in vitro bacteria of the genus Mycoplasma that have been described in several mammalian hosts worldwide. This study is the first report of hemoplasmas in marine mammals. EDTA anticoagulated whole blood samples from 137 California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and 20 northern elephant seals (Miroung...

This study examined the occurrence of Anaplasma spp. and hemoplasma infection in leopard cats, Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus, in Korea. Twenty-nine biological samples were tested by molecular analysis. Two (6.9%) and eight (27.6%) tested specimens were positive for Anaplasma bovis and hemoplasma infection, respectively. Based on our results, Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. and hemoplasma are reg...

An epidemiological survey of Iriomote cats (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis) was conducted to understand the prevalence and molecular characteristics of hemotropic mycoplasma (hemoplasma). A series of ecological surveys of Iriomote cats were performed between November 2003 and September 2010. During this period, 31 Iriomote cats were captured or found, and 39 blood samples were collected....

Concomitantly with an outbreak of fatal anaplasmosis in a cattle herd in Switzerland in 2002, we detected two bovine hemoplasma species in diseased animals: Mycoplasma wenyonii (formerly Eperythrozoon wenyonii) and a second, novel bovine hemoplasma species later designated "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos" (synonym, "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobovis"). The second species was characterized by a s...

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are successful urban adapters and hosts to a number of zoonotic and nonzoonotic pathogens, yet little is known about their hemoplasma infections and how prevalence varies across habitat types. This study identifies hemotropic Mycoplasma species infection in raccoons from urban and undisturbed habitats and compares hemoplasma infection in sympatric urban cats (Felis catu...

While hemoplasma infections in domestic cats are well studied, almost no information is available on their occurrence in wild felids. The aims of the present study were to investigate wild felid species as possible reservoirs of feline hemoplasmas and the molecular characterization of the hemoplasma isolates. Blood samples from the following 257 wild felids were analyzed: 35 Iberian lynxes from...

The prevalence of hemotropic mycoplasmas in wild monkeys is largely unknown. Here, we report the presence of hemoplasmas in blood specimens collected from wild Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) tentatively captured for ecological survey in Mie prefecture, Japan. We examined 9 monkeys using hemoplasma-specific real-time PCR and found all of them positive for a hemoplasma infection. The 16S rRNA ...

We have examined for hemoplasma infection among cattle in the Hiroshima and Miyazaki prefectures by using a sensitive real-time PCR, with SYBR Green I and with melting curve analysis, which allow to distinguish the two bovine hemoplasma species, Mycoplasma wenyonii and 'Candidatus M. haemobos'. We found 69.4% of 36 cattle in Hiroshima and 93.8% of 32 cattle in Miyazaki infected with either of t...

A molecular survey of hemoplasma (Mycoplasma haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum') in Yamaguchi Prefecture and surrounding areas was performed by using molecular methods. PCR-RFLP with HindIII revealed that 2 cats were infected with M. haemofelis, and 16 with 'C. Mycoplasma haemominutum' among 102 randomly selected cats. Partial 16S rRNA gene sequences of M. haemofelis and 'C. My...

BACKGROUND Hemoplasma species (spp.) commonly cause infections in cats worldwide. However, data on risk factors for infections are limited. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hemoplasma spp. infections in cats in Southern Germany and to assess risk factors associated with infection. RESULTS DNA was extracted from blood samples of 479 cats presented to different veterinar...