Detection of Hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. in white-eared opossums (Didelphis albiventris) from Southern Brazil.

Paula Fernanda Massini,Thiago Fernandes Martins,Flávio Haragushiku Otomura,Rafael Felipe Da Costa Vieira,Thállitha Samih Wischral Jaime Vieira,Max Jean De Ornelas Toledo,Ricardo Nascimento Drozino,Odilon Vidotto,Jessica Damiana Marinho Valente,Anna Claudia Baumel Mongruel

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612019058

Abstract

Opossums are marsupials from the New World of the genus Didelphis and known as synanthropic animals due to their proximity with human beings. To date, 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemodidelphis' has been solely found infecting the North American opossum (Didelphis virginiana). Accordingly, the aim of this study was to screen eight white-eared opossums (Didelphis albiventris) from a public park in Maringa city, Paraná State, southern Brazil, for hemoplasma infection. Blood samples were taken from caudal venipuncture, and DNA was extracted and further screened by a pan-hemoplasma PCR assay. Seven out of eight (87.50%; CI 95%: 47.35-99.68%) white-eared opossums were positive for Mycoplasma spp. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA fragment showed 98,97% identity with 'Ca. M. haemodidelphis' detected in the USA. Three out of eight (37.50%; CI 95%: 8.52-75.51%) white-eared opossums were infested by Amblyomma dubitatum ticks. This is the first report on detection of a potentially novel hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. infecting opossums from South America.

Highlights

In Brazil, Didelphis sp. may be exposed to different vector-borne pathogens (VBPs), such as Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp. and Borrelia spp. (MELO et al, 2016), to date only one opossum has been studied in this country and tested negative for hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. (SOUSA et al, 2017)
The present study aimed to identify the occurrence of hemoplasma species in free-ranging opossums (D. albiventris) from Maringá city, Paraná State, southern Brazil, using PCR-based assays
Maringá city is located in northwest region of Paraná State, which is characterized by semideciduous Atlantic Forest fragments and has a subtropical climate with an average temperature of 21.7 °C

Summary

Introduction

Atualmente, a espécie ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemodidelphis’ só foi encontrada infectando gambá norte americano (Didelphis virginiana). ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemodidelphis’ has been solely detected in the North American opossum (Didelphis virginiana) (MESSICK et al, 2000; MESSICK et al, 2002). (MELO et al, 2016), to date only one opossum has been studied in this country and tested negative for hemotropic Mycoplasma spp.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion