First report about canine infections with Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum in Serbia

Abstract

There are two species of haemotropic mycoplasmas that infect dogs which are known so far. These are Mycoplasma haemocanis and "Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum". In the case of dogs, the clinical picture of these infections manifests itself in immunocompromised dogs, although the organisms are also present in immunocompetent dogs which do not show any signs of infection. The vector for these microorganisms is the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The goal of this research was to confirm the presence of canine infections with haemotropic mycoplasmas in our geographic area, regarding the facts that the vector of canine haemotropic mycoplasmas, the Rhipicephalus sanguineus is widely spread in nature, and that the epidemic indications and the clinical signs of canine infections are also present. By means of light microscopic examination of stained peripheral canine blood smears, scanning electron microscopic examination of canine erythrocytes, as well as PCR and sequence analysis of the genome, the presence of canine infections with "Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum" in our geographic area has been identified for the first time.