ABSTRACT
Recently, the first record of Borrelia associated with reptiles in Mexico was published; however, no studies have been done to assess the role of Mexican ticks as potential vectors of this Borrelia group. Amblyomma dissimile is a hard tick mainly associated with amphibians and reptiles in this country. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of Borrelia in A. dissimile from Mexico. We collected 60 A. dissimile individuals attached to 16 Rhinella horribilis. DNA was extracted and all specimens were screened individually for Borrelia by amplification of a fragment of the 16S rDNA and an additional fragment of the flagellin gene. Five ticks were positive for Borrelia, DNA sequences corresponded to Borrelia sp. and group with sequences of the reptile-associated Borrelia group. This is the first report of Borrelia in A. dissimile and the second report of the reptile-associated Borrelia group in Mexico. This study also highlights the importance of this tick species as potential vector of this group.
Subject(s)
Amblyomma/microbiology , Borrelia , Bufonidae/microbiology , Reptiles/microbiology , Amphibians/microbiology , Animals , Arachnid Vectors/microbiology , Borrelia/classification , Borrelia/genetics , Borrelia/isolation & purification , Genes, Bacterial , Ixodidae/microbiology , Mexico , Pathology, Molecular , Phylogeny , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Tick Infestations/veterinaryABSTRACT
Mycoplasma ovis is a small, pleiotropic bacterium, which parasitizes the external surface of erythrocytes of several species of artiodactyl mammals, especially sheep and goats. We here report an outbreak of ovine mycoplasmosis in a sheep flock of a private ranch (Universidad Veracruzana) in Veracruz, Mexico. For the identification of Mycoplasma and other hemoparasitic bacterial agents, we stained blood smears with the DiffQuick® technique and additionally amplified several fragments of 16S rDNA gene. We detected the presence of morulas in erythrocytes from 30 sick female adult sheep, and found Mycoplasma ovis DNA in all of them. Furthermore, three of these animals also tested positive for Anaplasma ovis. Our findings represent the first record of M. ovis and A. ovis in an outbreak of hemolytic anemia in a sheep flock, leading to severe livestock loss in a ranch of Mexico. This study highlights the importance of establishing an active surveillance of both pathogens in the country.
