title: Two genetic clusters in swine hemoplasmas revealed by analyses of the 16S rRNA and RNase P RNA genes.
abstract: Only two hemoplasma species, Eperythrozoon parvum and Mycoplasma suis, have been recognized in pigs. Here we demonstrate the genetic variations among six hemoplasma strains detected from pigs, by analyzing the 16S rRNA and RNase P RNA (rnpB) genes, and propose a novel hemoplasma taxon that has not been described previously. Phylogenetic trees based on the nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that these six hemoplasmas were divided into two clusters representing M. suis and a novel taxon. We further examined the primary and secondary structures of the nucleotide sequences of the rnpB gene of the novel taxon, and found it distinct from that of M. suis. In conclusion, we unveiled a genetic cluster distinct from M. suis, suggesting a new swine hemoplasma species or E. parvum. Our findings also suggest that this novel cluster should be included in the genus Mycoplasma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka 020–8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusaku
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujihara
authors.forename: Hisato
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Obara
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Ryô
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harasawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D043262:Ribonuclease P / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D043262:Ribonuclease P