Molecular Detection of Hemoplasmas in Blood Samples from Dogs at a Blood Center and Veterinary Laboratory in the Central-West Region of Brazil

• Grant number: 25/05367-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Marcos Rogério André
• Grantee: Maria Eduarda Bolzan
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Hemoplasmas (Mollicutes: Mycoplasmataceae) are small Gram-negative bacteria that parasitize the surface of erythrocytes in various mammalian species, including humans. Mycoplasma haemocanis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum' are the primary parasitic species in dogs; the former is the most frequently detected and can cause hemolytic anemia in immunocompromised or splenectomized animals. The transmission routes of hemoplasmas are still unknown, although it is believed that transmission may occur through arthropod vectors, transplacental transmission, aggressive interaction, or blood transfusion. The present study aims to investigate the molecular occurrence of hemoplasmas in blood samples from a conveniently selected population of dogs, including those undergoing routine clinical care and blood donors in Brasília, Federal District. For this purpose, 100 blood samples from dogs receiving routine clinical care and 100 samples from blood donor dogs were collected. DNA will be extracted from the animals' blood and subjected to PCR targeting the mammalian endogenous gapdh gene. Positive samples will undergo quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) based on a fragment of the hemoplasma 16S rRNA gene. Positive samples will further be analyzed using semi-nested PCR targeting a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene and PCR targeting a fragment of the 23S rRNA gene of hemoplasmas. The resulting amplicons will be purified and sequenced. The obtained sequences will be subjected to phylogenetic inference. This study will contribute to understanding the distribution of hemoplasmas in dogs in the Central-West region of Brazil and investigate the potential risk of hemoplasma transmission through blood transfusions.