Real-time PCR-based study of haemotrophic mycoplasmas in dogs from Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

Mycoplasma haemocanis and Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum are canine haemoparasites associated with anemia in dogs. The tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus has been pointed as the main vector of transmission, but a clear association between the exposure of dogs to ticks and infection has not been established. The aim of this study was to apply real-time PCR to study the prevalence of haemoplasmas in dogs from the Brazilian town of Ribeirão Preto, where R. sanguineus is a common vector for other haemoparasites such as Ehrlichia canis and Babesia canis. DNA of Mycoplasma haemocanis was detected in 3 and Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum in 1 out of 154 tested dogs, indicating a low prevalence of these hemoparasites.