Epidemiology and Characterization of Mycoplasma Infections in Domestic Animals

Thesis outline (Abstract) The present thesis, that provides original data and novel information on epidemiological investigations and molecular analysis of Mycoplasma spp. infections in domestic animals, is structured into three chapters. Chapter I. It is focused on the prevalence and molecular identification of Mycoplasmopsis equigenitalium infection in donkey populations from Martina Franca (Italy) and Andalusia (Spain). This study aimed at investigating the occurrence and risk factors of Mycoplasma spp. organisms in the genital tract of donkeys. Results out of 31/120 (25.83%, 95% CI: 18.00-33.67) for M. equigenitalium was recorded, with one jenny (0.833, 95% CI: 0.000-2.460) exhibiting a mixed infection of Mycoplasmopsis equigenitalium and Metamycoplasma subdolum. Biosecurity measures significantly influenced the infection frequence, with farm adhering to good management practices displaying significantly lower infection rates (p=0.0031, OR=0.173). No significant risk was detected for country, age, gender, or breed. The study reports M. equigenitalium and M. subdolum infections in healthy donkeys in Europe, identifying poor biosecurity as a risk factor and emphasizing the need for further research on their reproductive impact. Chapter II. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and the risk factors of mycoplasmas in canine populations affected with low reproductive efficiency. Out of 68 tested animals, Mycoplasma spp. DNA was detected in 26 dogs (38.24%, CI 95%: 26.68, 49.79) being 13 (52%, CI 95%: 32.42, 71.58) males and 13 (30.23%, CI 95%: 16.51, 43.96) females. When considering Mycoplasma species, M. cynos 15/68 (22%, CI 95%: 12.20, 31.91) was more frequently detected compared to M. canis 8/68 (11.76%, CI 95%: 4.11, 19.42), furthermore mixed infection was also detected 3/68 (4.4%, CI 95%: 0.00, 9.29), with males more at risk of M. cynos infection (OR: 5.07). Furthermore, animals affected with reproductive impairment were three time to be more likelihood infected than healthy animals (OR: 3.38). This highlights their potential association with reproductive disorders and the need for adopting preventive measures. Chapter III includes a Molecular survey on vector‑borne pathogens in clinically healthy stray cats in Zaragoza (Spain). this study was to assess the prevalence of vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) in stray cats in Zaragoza, Spain, and to investigate potential risk factors for infection, including feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Results Nearly half of the cats (158/332, 47.6%) were positive for at least one VBP. Hepatozoon spp. were detected in 25.6%, haemotropic Mycoplasma spp. in 22.9%, B. henselae in 9.3% and L. infantum in 2.1% of the cats. Male sex had a statistically significant association with test results for haemotropic Mycoplasma spp. (odds ratio 1.38 [1.21;1.57]); regionality with Hepatozoon spp., B. henseale and FIV; and seasonality with Hepatozoon spp., haemotropic Mycoplasma spp., L. infantum and FeLV (P ≤ 0.05 each). A strong positive correlation was reported for the amount of rainfall and the number of cats that tested positive for Hepatozoon spp. (ρ = 753, P = 0.05). None of the cats tested positive for A. phagocytophilum, A. platys, E. canis, Rickettsia spp., piroplasms, or microfilariae. Co-infections with multiple VBPs were detected in 56 out of 332 cats (16.9%). Thirty-one of the 332 cats included in the study (9.3%) tested positive for FeLV (6.9%) and for FIV (3.6%). In 20/31 cats (64.5%) that tested positive for FeLV/FIV, coinfections with VBP were detected (P = 0.048, OR 2.15 [0.99; 4.64]). VBPs were frequently detected in stray cats in Zaragoza. In particular, regionality and seasonality had a statistically significant association with PCR results for most VBPs included in the study.