First description of Arthroderma lilyanum in a rabbit with a focal alopecic area of the forelimb

Dermatophytosis is an important zoonotic disease in pet rabbits. While common clinical signs of dermatophytosis can occur, rabbits can also be asymptomatically infected. This case report describes a rabbit from Switzerland, with a focal alopecic area on one forepaw. Dermatophyte culture of a hair and skin sample taken from the lesion revealed growth of a dermatophyte, that was identified as the recently described species Arthroderma (A.) lilyanum by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and β-tubulin genes. After local treatment with a disinfectant containing octenidine dihydrochloride and phenoxyethanol twice daily for two weeks, the lesion fully healed. Although it is not clear whether the dermatophyte was responsible for the lesion or if it was an incidental finding with an asymptomatic infection, the current report shows, that the host spectrum and geographical distribution of A. lilyanum are broader than previously thought

Haemotrophic mycoplasmas in South American camelids in Switzerland

The red blood cell parasite 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemolamae', formerly Eperythrozoon, is known to be widespread in South American camelids in the USA, causing anaemia in affected animals. Up to now, haemotrophic mycoplasmas were not observed in South American camelids in Europe; however, they were known in a herd of alpacas in Switzerland and to identify them as 'Candidatus M. haemolamae'. Possible ways of transmission are discussed

Prevalence and PCR-based follow-up of hemotropic mycoplasma infections in dogs in Switzerland

Hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) have been reported in several mammalian species. In dogs, two species have been described: Mycoplasma haemocanis and ‚Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum’. Infections can lead to hemolytic anemia, but the clinical importance of the two canine hemoplasma species needs to be further investigated. No data on the presence of canine hemoplasmas in Switzerland has been published, but the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus, a proposed vector for canine hemoplasmas, is occasionally encountered in the canton Ticino. The aim of the present study was to investigate the importance of M. haemocanis and ‘Candidatus M. haematoparvum’ in the Swiss dog population. Blood samples from 889 dogs were analyzed with two sensitive real-time PCR assays. For phylogenetic analyses, the 16S rRNA genes of four isolates were sequenced. Overall, hemoplasma infections were rarely detected in Swiss dogs: M. haemocanis was found in eight (0.9%) and ‘Candidatus M. haematoparvum’ in three (0.3%) tested dogs. The sequenced isolates revealed ≥ 99.8% identity to published sequences. Only two infected dogs showed mild anemia. In one ‘Candidatus M. haematoparvum’ and two M. haemocanis infected animals a chronic carrier status of three to 13 months was demonstrated. Interestingly, the majority of the infected dogs had paid visit to regions where R. sanguineus is frequently found. According to our results, canine hemoplasma infections play only a subordinate role in dogs in Switzerland. Haemotrope Mykoplasmen (Haemoplasmen) wurden bei diversen Säugetieren beschrieben. Beim Hund sind Mycoplasma haemocanis und ‚Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum’ bekannt. Infektionen können zu einer hämolytischen Anämie führen; die klinische Bedeutung der beiden Erreger bedarf jedoch weiterer Untersuchungen. Es existieren bislang keine Daten über das Vorkommen von caninen Haemoplasmen in der Schweiz. Die Zecke Rhipicephalus sanguineus, die als Vektor in Frage kommt, kann gelegentlich im Kanton Tessin gefunden werden. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, die Bedeutung von M. haemocanis und ‘Candidatus M. haematoparvum’ in der Schweizer Hundepopulation zu untersuchen. Blutproben von 889 Hunden wurden mittels zwei sensitiver real-time PCR Methoden analysiert. Von vier Isolaten wurde für phylogenetische Analysen das 16S rRNA Gen sequenziert. Insgesamt wurden Haemoplasmen- Infektionen nur bei wenigen Hunden detektiert: M. haemocanis wurde in acht (0.9%) und ‘Candidatus M. haematoparvum’ in drei (0.3%) der getesteten Tiere gefunden. Die sequenzierten Isolate zeigten ≥ 99.8% Übereinstimmung mit publizierten Sequenzen. Nur zwei der infizierten Hunde zeigten eine leichtgradige Anämie. Bei einem ‘Candidatus M. haematoparvum’- und zwei M. haemocanis-infizierten Tieren konnte ein chronisches Trägerstadium über einen Zeitraum von bis zu 13 Monaten gezeigt werden. Interessanterweise hatte die Mehrheit der infizierten Hunde Regionen bereist, in denen R. sanguineus häufig vorkommt. Gemäss unseren Resultaten spielen canine Haemoplasmen-Infektionen bei Hunden in der Schweiz nur eine untergeordnete Rolle

Development and Application of a Universal Hemoplasma Screening Assay Based on the SYBR Green PCR Principle▿

Hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) are the causative agents of infectious anemia in several mammalian species. Their zoonotic potential has recently been substantiated by the identification of a feline hemoplasma isolate in an immunocompromised human patient. Although species-specific diagnostic molecular methods have been developed, their application as screening tools is limited due to the species diversity of hemoplasmas. The goals of this study were to develop a universal hemoplasma screening assay with broad specificity based on the SYBR green PCR principle, to compare the assay with hemoplasma-specific TaqMan PCR, and to analyze potential tick vectors and human blood samples to address the zoonotic potential. The newly developed PCR assay based on the 16S rRNA gene amplified feline, canine, bovine, porcine, camelid, and murine hemoplasmas, as well as Mycoplasma penetrans and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The lower detection limit for feline and canine hemoplasmas was 1 to 10 copies/PCR. The assay exhibited 98.2% diagnostic sensitivity and 92.1% diagnostic specificity for feline hemoplasmas. All 1,950 Ixodes ticks were PCR negative, suggesting that Ixodes ticks are not relevant vectors for the above-mentioned hemoplasma species in Switzerland. None of the 414 blood samples derived from anemic or immunocompromised human patients revealed a clear positive result. The SYBR green PCR assay described here is a suitable tool to screen for known and so-far-undiscovered hemoplasma species. Positive results should be confirmed by specific TaqMan PCR or sequencing

Real-Time PCR Investigation of Potential Vectors, Reservoirs, and Shedding Patterns of Feline Hemotropic Mycoplasmas▿

Three hemotropic mycoplasmas have been identified in pet cats: Mycoplasma haemofelis, “Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum,” and “Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis.” The way in which these agents are transmitted is largely unknown. Thus, this study aimed to investigate fleas, ticks, and rodents as well as saliva and feces from infected cats for the presence of hemotropic mycoplasmas, to gain insight into potential transmission routes for these agents. DNA was extracted from arthropods and from rodent blood or tissue samples from Switzerland and from salivary and fecal swabs from two experimentally infected and six naturally infected cats. All samples were analyzed with real-time PCR, and some positive samples were confirmed by sequencing. Feline hemotropic mycoplasmas were detected in cat fleas and in a few Ixodes sp. and Rhipicephalus sp. ticks collected from animals but not in ticks collected from vegetation or from rodent samples, although the latter were frequently Mycoplasma coccoides PCR positive. When shedding patterns of feline hemotropic mycoplasmas were investigated, “Ca. Mycoplasma turicensis” DNA was detected in saliva and feces at the early but not at the late phase of infection. M. haemofelis and “Ca. Mycoplasma haemominutum” DNA was not amplified from saliva and feces of naturally infected cats, despite high hemotropic mycoplasma blood loads. Our results suggest that besides an ostensibly indirect transmission by fleas, direct transmission through saliva and feces at the early phase of infection could play a role in the epizootiology of feline hemotropic mycoplasmas. Neither the investigated tick nor the rodent population seems to represent a major reservoir for feline hemotropic mycoplasmas in Switzerland

Molecular Investigations of Rickettsia helvetica Infection in Dogs, Foxes, Humans, and Ixodes Ticks▿

Rickettsia helvetica, a tick-borne member of the spotted-fever-group rickettsiae, is a suspected pathogen in humans; however, its role in animals is unknown. The aims of this study were to establish a R. helvetica-specific real-time TaqMan PCR assay and apply it to the analysis of tick vectors (to determine potential exposure risk) and blood samples from Canidae and humans (to determine prevalence of infection). The newly designed 23S rRNA gene assay for R. helvetica was more sensitive than a published citrate synthase gene (gltA) assay for several rickettsiae. Blood samples from 884 dogs, 58 foxes, and 214 human patients and 2,073 ticks (Ixodes spp.) collected from either vegetation or animals were analyzed. Although the maximal likelihood estimate of prevalence was 12% in unfed ticks and 36% in ticks collected from animals, none of the 1,156 blood samples tested PCR positive. Ticks from cats were more frequently PCR positive than ticks from dogs. Sequencing of the 23S rRNA and/or the gltA gene of 17 tick pools confirmed the presence of R. helvetica. Additionally, Rickettsia monacensis, which has not been previously found in Switzerland, was identified. In conclusion, R. helvetica was frequently detected in the tick population but not in blood samples. Nevertheless, due to the broad host range of Ixodes ticks and the high rate of infestation with this agent (i.e., R. helvetica was 13 times more frequent in unfed ticks than the tick-borne encephalitis virus), many mammals may be exposed to R. helvetica. The PCR assay described here represents an important tool for studying this topic