Molecular detection of canine and feline hemotropic mycoplasmas in Northern Vietnam

Hemoplasma is commonly used to refer to hemotropic Mycoplasma bacterial species belonging to the genus Mycoplasma that can attach to the surface of red blood cells, potentially leading to hemolytic anemia. These organisms can infect a wide range of mammals, including companion animals and humans worldwide. Specifically for companion animals, two main hemoplasma species can infect dogs, and three major species can infect cats including Mycoplasma haemocanis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum, Mycoplasma haemofelis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum, and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis, respectively. Currently, there is a lack of research data regarding hemoplasma infections in dogs and cats in Vietnam. Therefore, this study aims to provide useful information about the molecular presence of hemotropic Mycoplasma in dogs and cats in northern Vietnam. A total of 489 blood samples were collected from 201 dogs and 288 cats in Vietnam. The research utilized the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to precisely target the 16S rRNA gene of hemoplasma to detect these species from blood samples obtained from companion animals in Vietnam. The positive samples underwent bidirectional sequencing, followed by phylogenetic analysis to analyze their DNA sequences. The blood smears showed the absence of hemoplasma in 120 samples from dogs and cats. Phylogenetic analysis shows the presence of two different species of hemoplasma including Mycoplasma (M.) haemocanis and M. suis. Moreover, the blood samples collected from cats revealed the presence of M. haemocanis, the primary infection species in dogs, and M. suis, the main infection species in pigs, indicating the possibility of cross-species transmission. Hemoplasma species have been detected in Vietnam in several studies. However, to the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report of the presence of M. haemocanis and M. suis in cats and dogs in Vietnam.