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1 October 2008 Molecular detection of haemotropic Mycoplasma species in Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick species collected on lions (Panithera leo) from Ngorongoro Crator, Tanzania
Robert D. Fyumagwa, Pascale Simmler, Barbara Willi, Marina L. Meli, Armin Sutter, Richard Hoare, Gottfried Dasen, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann, Hans Lutz
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Abstract

Haemotropic Mycoplasma species are pathogens that can cause haemolytic anaemia in susceptible mammalian species worldwide. The cause of haemolysis is due to membrane damage through stimulation of IgM cold agglutinins production, which induces autoimmune haemolysis of infected erythrocytes. A study was conducted to establish the prevalence of Mycoplasma haemofelis, ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ and ‘Candidatus M. turicensis’in ticks and the diversity of tick species that are possible vectors of the pathogens that can transmit the infection to wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater. Three real-time PCR assays were used for the analysis of DNA pools (n = 507) derived from 11 tick species. Mycoplasma haemofelis and ‘Candidatus M. haemominutum’ were detected in Rhipicephalus sanguineus. On average 19.7% and 12.9% of R. sanguineus were PCR-positive for M. haemofelis and ‘Candidatus M. haemominutum’, respectively. This tick species therefore represent an important reservoir for feline haemotropic Mycoplasma species in the crater. These organisms with their known pathological effects are probably one of the factors potentially exacerbating the severity of infection during the disease outbreak in wildlife and can have undesirable outcome to wild cats like lions when under nutritional stress or in case of concurrent infection.

Robert D. Fyumagwa, Pascale Simmler, Barbara Willi, Marina L. Meli, Armin Sutter, Richard Hoare, Gottfried Dasen, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann, and Hans Lutz "Molecular detection of haemotropic Mycoplasma species in Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick species collected on lions (Panithera leo) from Ngorongoro Crator, Tanzania," South African Journal of Wildlife Research 38(2), 117-122, (1 October 2008). https://doi.org/10.3957/0379-4369-38.2.117
Received: 17 March 2008; Accepted: 1 August 2008; Published: 1 October 2008
KEYWORDS
haemotropic Mycoplasma
lions
Ngorongoro Crater
real-time PCR
ticks
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