Molecular Detection and Characterization of Mycoplasma spp. in Marine Mammals, Brazil

• Published in: Emerging infectious diseases Vol. 29; no. 12; pp. 2471 - 2481
• Main Authors: Duarte-Benvenuto, Aricia, Sacristan, Carlos, Ewbank, Ana Carolina, Zamana- Ramblas, Roberta, Lial, Henrique Christino, Silva, Samira Costa, Lugo, Maria Alejandra Arias, Keid, Lara B, Pessi, Caroline F, Sabbadini, Jose Rubens, Ribeiro, Vanessa L, do Valle, Rodrigo del Rio, Bertozzi, Carolina Pacheco, Colosio, Adriana Castaldo, Ramos, Hernani da Cunha Gomes, Sanchez-Sarmiento, Angelica Maria, Ferioli, Raquel Beneton, Pavanelli, Larissa, Ikeda, Joana Midori Penalva, Carvalho, Vitor L, Goncalves, Felipe Alexandre Catardo, Ibanez-Porras, Pablo, Sacristan, Irene, Catao-Dias, Jose Luiz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Atlanta U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases 01.12.2023; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Subjects: Animal sciences; Animals; Aquatic mammals; Bacteria; Blood; Brazil; California; cetaceans; Communicable diseases; Control; Dolphins & porpoises; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; hemoplasmas; hemotropic Mycoplasma; Identification and classification; India; Infections; Marine mammals; Molecular Detection and Characterization of; Mycoplasma; Natural resources; Pathogens; Prevention; Protection and preservation; Rehabilitation; Risk factors; Sea lions; spp. in Marine Mammals, Brazil; Veterinary colleges; Veterinary medicine; Viral infections; Zoonoses; Brazil; California; India
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059
• DOI: 10.3201/eid2912.230903

Mycoplasma spp. are wall-less bacteria able to infect mammals and are classified as hemotropic (hemoplasma) and nonhemotropic. In aquatic mammals, hemoplasma have been reported in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and river dolphins (Inia spp.). We investigated Mycoplasma spp. in blood samples of West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus), pinnipeds (5 species), and marine cetaceans (18 species) that stranded or were undergoing rehabilitation in Brazil during 2002–2022. We detected Mycoplasma in blood of 18/130 (14.8%) cetaceans and 3/18 (16.6%) pinnipeds. All tested manatees were PCR-negative for Mycoplasma. Our findings indicate that >2 different hemoplasma species are circulating in cetaceans. The sequences from pinnipeds were similar to previously described sequences. We also detected a nonhemotropic Mycoplasma in 2 Franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) that might be associated with microscopic lesions. Because certain hemoplasmas can cause disease and death in immunosuppressed mammals, the bacteria could have conservation implications for already endangered aquatic mammals.