Work

Hemotropic Mycoplasma in cattle and Asian water buffalo in Thailand: Revealing globally distributed sequence types and regional genetic diversity

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Hemotropic mycoplasmas, particularly Mycoplasma wenyonii and “ Candidatus Mycoplasma haematobovis”, are increasingly recognized as emerging vector-borne pathogens of veterinary importance in cattle and buffalo. Due to their complex epidemiology and the limited understanding of their pathogenic mechanisms, hemoplasma infections in large ruminants are often underdiagnosed and underreported, especially in resource-limited settings. This study investigated the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of hemotropic Mycoplasma species in blood samples collected from cattle and buffalo across seven provinces in Thailand between 2016 and 2023. A total of 422 samples (214 from cattle and 208 from buffalo) were analyzed, with 373 testing positive for hemotropic Mycoplasma DNA. Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S and 23S rRNA gene sequences revealed two distinct clades corresponding to M. wenyonii and “ Ca . M. haematobovis”. Most sequences clustered with M. wenyonii strains from multiple countries, while a smaller subset grouped with “ Ca. M. haematobovis” strains. Intraspecific sequence similarity among M. wenyonii 16S rRNA gene sequences ranged from 97.29% to 100%, whereas “ Ca. M. haematobovis” sequences showed similarities ranging from 99.75% to 100%. Interspecific similarity between the two species ranged from 83.48% to 84.34%. For the 23S rRNA gene sequences, M. wenyonii exhibited intraspecific similarity levels ranging from 90.94% to 100%, while “ Ca . M. haematobovis” sequences demonstrated 99.53% similarity; interspecific similarity for this gene ranged from 76.69% to 77.34%. We identified 11 nucleotide sequence types (ntSTs) for M. wenyonii , with ntST10 being the most widely distributed, shared among isolates from Cuba, Thailand, Japan, and Brazil. The single “ Ca . M. haematobovis” sequence type detected in this study clustered within ntST7, alongside sequences from Cuba, Malaysia, Brazil, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, and Japan. These findings highlight the substantial genetic diversity and broad geographical distribution of hemotropic Mycoplasma species in Thailand and emphasize the critical importance of molecular screening for managing the risk of pathogen transmission within livestock populations. • A total of 422 samples were analyzed, with 273 testing positive for hemotropic Mycoplasma DNA. • Phylogenetic analyses revealed two distinct clades corresponding to Mycoplasma wenyonii and “ Candidatus M. haematobovis”. • We identified 11 nucleotide sequence types (ntSTs) for M. wenyonii , with ntST10 being the most widely distributed.

Source: Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases

DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100318

Authors: Apinya Arnuphapprasert, Yudhi Ratna Nugraheni, Morakot Kaewthamasorn

Institutions: Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Chulalongkorn University

Language: English

Topic: Microbial infections and disease research

Subfield: Microbiology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,350