Prevalence and molecular characterization of Mycoplasma ovis in selected free-ranging Brazilian deer populations

J Wildl Dis. 2011 Oct;47(4):1005-11. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-47.4.1005.

Abstract

Mycoplasma ovis is a hemoplasma that may cause anemia and mortality in small ruminants. Our aim was to determine whether M. ovis infects populations of free-ranging deer in Brazil. Buffy coat samples from 64 Blastocerus dichotomus from Porto Primavera, 18 Ozotocerus bezoarticus from Pantanal, and 21 O. bezoarticus from Emas National Park were tested. Using a M. ovis PCR protocol to amplify extracted DNA, 46/64 (72%) of deer from Porto Primavera, 10/18 (56%) from Pantanal, and 4/21 (19%) from Emas National Park were positive, giving an overall positive rate of 58% for hemoplasma in these wild deer. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed 3 genetically distinct hemoplasmas including M. ovis, 'Candidatus Mycoplasma erythrocervae', and a hemoplasma most closely related to M. ovis. Phylogenetic analysis of the 23S rRNA gene from selected sequences confirmed these relationships.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild / microbiology
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • Deer / microbiology*
  • Female
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mycoplasma / classification
  • Mycoplasma / isolation & purification*
  • Mycoplasma Infections / epidemiology
  • Mycoplasma Infections / veterinary*
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Prevalence
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / analysis
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S

Associated data

  • GENBANK/HQ634377
  • GENBANK/HQ634378
  • GENBANK/HQ634379
  • GENBANK/HQ634380
  • GENBANK/HQ634381
  • GENBANK/HQ634382
  • GENBANK/HQ634383