title: Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the causative agent of hemoplasma infection in small Indian Mongoose (Herpestes Javanicus).
abstract: Hemoplasmas are the trivial name for a group of erythrocyte-parasitizing bacteria of the genus Mycoplasma. This study is the first report of hemoplasma infection in Small Indian Mongoose (Herpestes Javanicus) based on molecular analysis of 16S rDNA. Whole blood samples were collected by sterile methods, from 14 live captured mongooses, in the south of Iran. Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (CMt)-like hemoplasma was detected in blood samples from one animal tested. BLAST search and phylogenetic analysis of partial 16S rDNA sequence (933bp) of the hemoplasma from Small Indian mongoose (KJ530704) revealed only 96-97% identity to the previously described CMt followed by 95% and 91% similarity with Mycoplasma coccoides and Mycoplasma haemomuris, respectively. Accordingly, the Iranian mongoose CMt isolate showed a high intra-specific genetic variation compared to all previously reported CMt strains in GenBank. Further molecular studies using multiple phylogenetic markers are required to characterize the exact species of Mongoose-derived hemoplasma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sharifiyazdi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: nazifi@shirazu.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nazifi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Hesamaddin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shirzad Aski
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shayegh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D008988:Herpestidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: 16S rDNA; Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis; Phylogenetic analysis; Small Indian mongoose (Herpestes Javanicus)