A review of the occurrence of hemoplasmas (hemotrophic mycoplasmas) in Brazil.
Recent studies have been conducted in Brazil using molecular techniques for the detection of hemotrophic mycoplasmas in several mammals. In domestic cats, Mycoplasma haemofelis, "Candidatus M. haemominutum", and "Candidatus M. turicensis" infections have been identified. These species have also been found in free-ranging and captive neotropical felid species. Two canine hemoplasmas, Mycoplasma haemocanis and "Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum", have been identified in dogs. In commercial swine populations, Mycoplasma suis was found to be highly prevalent, especially in sows. Moreover, novel mycoplasma species have been identified in Brazilian commercial pigs and domestic dogs. A hemoplasma infection in a human patient infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was also recently documented. In conclusion, hemoplasma species are common and important infectious agents in Brazil. Further studies should be conducted to better understand their impact on pets, production animals, and wildlife fauna, as well as their role as zoonotic agents, particularly in immunocompromised patients.
Biondo
Alexander Welker
AW
Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Paraná, UFPR. abiondo@illinois.edu
Dos Santos
Andrea Pires
AP
Guimarães
Ana Marcia Sá
AM
Vieira
Rafael Felipe da Costa
RF
Vidotto
Odilon
O
Macieira
Daniel de Barros
Dde B
Almosny
Nádia Regina Pereira
NR
Molento
Marcelo Beltrão
MB
Timenetsky
Jorge
J
de Morais
Helio Autran
HA
González
Félix Hilário Diáz
FH
Messick
Joanne Belle
JB
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001938:Brazil; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification