Hofmann-Lehmann
Fakultäten » Vetsuisse-Fakultät » Nutztiere, Departement für » Veterinärmedizinisches Labor » Prof. Dr. Regina Hofmann-Lehmann » Hofmann-Lehmann
Completed research project
| Title / Titel | Prevalence and geographical distribution of canine hemotropic mycoplasma infections in Mediterranean countries and analysis of risk factors for infection | ||||||||
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| Abstract (PDF, 14 KB) | |||||||||
| Summary / Zusammenfassung | Two hemoplasma species have been characterized in dogs: Mycoplasma haemocanis (Mhc) and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum’ (CMhp). Although their transmission routes are poorly understood, Rhipicephalus sanguineus has been suggested as a potential tick vector. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence, risk factors, and clinical importance of canine hemoplasmas in countries with a Mediterranean climate where R. sanguineus is highly prevalent using TaqMan real-time PCR, and to molecularly characterize the identified isolates. DNA (canine glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) was successfully amplified from all samples collected from 850 dogs in Italy, Spain, and Portugal, and 82 (9.6%) were PCR-positive for canine hemoplasmas (43 Mhc, 34 CMhp and 5 co-infected). The hemoplasma sample prevalence was significantly higher in Portugal (40%) than in Italy (9.5%) and Spain (2.5%). Risk factors for infection included living in kennels, young age, crossbreeding, and mange infection. Among the PCR-positive dogs, 33 (40%) were infested with blood-sucking arthropods. No association was found with anemia. Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA and RNase P gene revealed >99% identity to other European isolates. In conclusion, canine hemoplasma infections were commonly encountered in Mediterranean countries. The climate and living conditions seemed to influence canine hemoplasma prevalence. The clinical importance of canine hemoplasma infections appears to be low, but the infection stage of the presented dogs was unknown. | ||||||||
| Publications / Publikationen | Novacco M, ML Meli, F Gentilini, F Marsilio, C Ceci, MG Pennisi, G Lombardo, A Lloret, L Santos, T Carrapiço, B Willi, G Wolf, H Lutz, R Hofmann-Lehmann. 2010. Prevalence and geographical distribution of canine hemotropic mycoplasma infections in Mediterranean countries and analysis of risk factors for infection. Vet Microbiol 142:276-84.Willi B, M Novacco, M Meli, G Wolf-Jäckel, F Boretti, N Wengi, H Lutz, R Hofmann-Lehmann. 2010. Haemotropic mycoplasmas of cats and dogs: transmission, diagnosis, prevalence and importance in Europe. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd 152:237-44. | ||||||||
| Keywords / Suchbegriffe | canine hemotropic mycoplasma; ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum’; Mycoplasma haemocanis; TaqMan® real-time PCR; kennel; Rhipicephalus sanguineus | ||||||||
| Project leadership and contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte |
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| Funding source(s) / Unterstützt durch |
No project-specific funding |
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| In collaboration with / In Zusammenarbeit mit |
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| Duration of Project / Projektdauer | Jan 2008 to Oct 2009 |