Molecular evidence of hemoplasmas in Malaysian cattle and ticks.

Hemotrophic mycoplasma (hemoplasmas) is a cell wall-less bacterium causing infectious anemia in animals. As data on hemoplasmas infecting cattle in Malaysia is scarce, specific polymerase chain reaction assays were used for detection of hemoplasmas from blood samples of cattle and ticks in this study. Hemoplasma DNA was detected in 69 (69.0%) of 100 cattle blood samples obtained from different breeds. A total of 50.0% of the cattle in this study were infected with only Mycoplasma wenyonii, while 2.0% were infected with only Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos and 17% were infected with both species. Based on sequence analysis of the partial or nearly full length sequences of hemoplasma 16S rRNA gene, the presence of M. wenyonii and Candidatus M. haemobos was confirmed. Hemoplasmapositive cattle of less than three years appeared to have higher infection rate compared to other age groups. M. wenyonii was identified for the first time in approximately 30% of cattle ticks (Rhipicephalus microplus and Haemaphysalis sp.) in this study. This study presents the first molecular evidence of hemoplasmas in Malaysian cattle and ticks.

Molecular Detection of Coxiella burnetii from Farm Animals and Ticks in Malaysia.

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, is an intracellular bacterium of medical and veterinary importance. The reservoirs of C. burnetii are extensive which include mammals and arthropods, particularly ticks. As the organism is difficult to culture, this study was aimed to detect C. burnetii DNA in animal (mainly blood and vaginal samples of cattle, goats and sheep) and tick samples obtained from farm animals, wild rodents and vegetation. Two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays targeting IS1111 transposon-like gene (TransPCR) and com1 gene (OMP-PCR) were used for C. burnetii detection. Sequence determination of the amplified fragments and a real-time PCR assay were used to confirm PCR findings. C. burnetii DNA was detected from 9.1% of cattle blood and 4.2% vaginal samples, respectively. A small percentage (5.8%) of ticks (including Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Rhipicephalus and Haemaphysalis spp.) haboring C. burnetii were identified in this study. This study provides molecular evidence on the presence of C. burnetii in cattle and ticks. The possible zoonotic transmission of C. burnetii is yet to be investigated.