Additional file 1 of Molecular detection of hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) in humans and dogs living on islands and the seashore mainland of Brazil: a One Health approach

Open MIND · 2026-01-01

Additional file1 (DOCX 50 kb)

Molecular detection of hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) in humans and dogs living on islands and the seashore mainland of Brazil: a One Health approach

Figshare · 2026-01-01

Abstract Background Although Mycoplasma spp. infection has been recently detected in other vulnerable human populations (indigenous and quilombola communities) in Brazil, no study to date has focused on traditional oceanic island communities and their dogs. To address this research gap, we assessed Mycoplasma spp. infection in humans and dogs living on the mainland seashore and oceanic islands of southern Brazil. Methods Humans from three oceanic islands and two coastal mainland municipalities of southern Brazil were sampled, and Mycoplasma spp. infection was determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) (cycle threshold; Ct ≤ 34.4). Dog samples were collected and tested using the Canine Hemotropic Mycoplasma panel (Idexx Reference Laboratory, Sacramento, CA, USA). To ensure accurate results, samples were also subjected to targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS), and results were used to construct phylogenetic trees. Epidemiological information was obtained to analyze associated risk factors. Results A total of 19/304 (6.2%) individuals tested positive to hemoplasmas, with Mycoplasma haemocanis confirmed in 3/304 (1.0%) through 16S ribosomal RNA gene and targeted next-generation sequencing. In addition, 44/290 (15.2%) dogs were positive for hemoplasmas through qPCR testing, with 13/290 (4.5%) for M. haemocanis, 23/290 (7.9%) for Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum, and 8/290 (2.8%) for both. Statistical analysis revealed an association between human positivity and gender and income range, and dog positivity was associated with male gender and access to forest areas. Conclusions The concomitant human–dog M. haemocanis detected herein on oceanic islands together with results from previous reports on indigenous and quilombola communities, suggest that socially vulnerable populations have an increased exposure risk. Future studies should be conducted in other vulnerable populations worldwide to fully establish the extent of human–dog Mycoplasma spp. infection. Graphical Abstract

Molecular detection of hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) in humans and dogs living on islands and the seashore mainland of Brazil: a One Health approach

Parasites & Vectors · 2026-01-27 · 1 citations

BACKGROUND: Although Mycoplasma spp. infection has been recently detected in other vulnerable human populations (indigenous and quilombola communities) in Brazil, no study to date has focused on traditional oceanic island communities and their dogs. To address this research gap, we assessed Mycoplasma spp. infection in humans and dogs living on the mainland seashore and oceanic islands of southern Brazil. METHODS: Humans from three oceanic islands and two coastal mainland municipalities of southern Brazil were sampled, and Mycoplasma spp. infection was determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) (cycle threshold; Ct ≤ 34.4). Dog samples were collected and tested using the Canine Hemotropic Mycoplasma panel (Idexx Reference Laboratory, Sacramento, CA, USA). To ensure accurate results, samples were also subjected to targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS), and results were used to construct phylogenetic trees. Epidemiological information was obtained to analyze associated risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 19/304 (6.2%) individuals tested positive to hemoplasmas, with Mycoplasma haemocanis confirmed in 3/304 (1.0%) through 16S ribosomal RNA gene and targeted next-generation sequencing. In addition, 44/290 (15.2%) dogs were positive for hemoplasmas through qPCR testing, with 13/290 (4.5%) for M. haemocanis, 23/290 (7.9%) for Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum, and 8/290 (2.8%) for both. Statistical analysis revealed an association between human positivity and gender and income range, and dog positivity was associated with male gender and access to forest areas. CONCLUSIONS: The concomitant human-dog M. haemocanis detected herein on oceanic islands together with results from previous reports on indigenous and quilombola communities, suggest that socially vulnerable populations have an increased exposure risk. Future studies should be conducted in other vulnerable populations worldwide to fully establish the extent of human-dog Mycoplasma spp.

Molecular detection of hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) in humans and dogs living on islands and the seashore mainland of Brazil: a One Health approach

Figshare · 2026-01-01

Abstract Background Although Mycoplasma spp. infection has been recently detected in other vulnerable human populations (indigenous and quilombola communities) in Brazil, no study to date has focused on traditional oceanic island communities and their dogs. To address this research gap, we assessed Mycoplasma spp. infection in humans and dogs living on the mainland seashore and oceanic islands of southern Brazil. Methods Humans from three oceanic islands and two coastal mainland municipalities of southern Brazil were sampled, and Mycoplasma spp. infection was determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) (cycle threshold; Ct ≤ 34.4). Dog samples were collected and tested using the Canine Hemotropic Mycoplasma panel (Idexx Reference Laboratory, Sacramento, CA, USA). To ensure accurate results, samples were also subjected to targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS), and results were used to construct phylogenetic trees. Epidemiological information was obtained to analyze associated risk factors. Results A total of 19/304 (6.2%) individuals tested positive to hemoplasmas, with Mycoplasma haemocanis confirmed in 3/304 (1.0%) through 16S ribosomal RNA gene and targeted next-generation sequencing. In addition, 44/290 (15.2%) dogs were positive for hemoplasmas through qPCR testing, with 13/290 (4.5%) for M. haemocanis, 23/290 (7.9%) for Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum, and 8/290 (2.8%) for both. Statistical analysis revealed an association between human positivity and gender and income range, and dog positivity was associated with male gender and access to forest areas. Conclusions The concomitant human–dog M. haemocanis detected herein on oceanic islands together with results from previous reports on indigenous and quilombola communities, suggest that socially vulnerable populations have an increased exposure risk. Future studies should be conducted in other vulnerable populations worldwide to fully establish the extent of human–dog Mycoplasma spp. infection. Graphical Abstract

Additional file 1 of Molecular detection of hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) in humans and dogs living on islands and the seashore mainland of Brazil: a One Health approach

Figshare · 2026-01-01

Additional file1 (DOCX 50 kb)

Malignant Mixed Irido‐Melanophoroma in a <i>Betta splendens</i> with Concurrent <i>Mycobacterium chelonae</i> Isolation—A Case Report

Journal of Fish Diseases · 2025-03-19 · 1 citations

A 10-month-old intact male blue Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) was presented to the Purdue University Small Animal Hospital with multiple bilateral masses on the caudal flank. Comprehensive evaluation using impression cytology, histopathology and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed a tumour composed of a mixed-cell population of iridophores and melanophores, consistent with a mixed-cell irido-melanophoroma. The tumour exhibited clinical and cytohistological characteristics of malignancy, including rapid enlargement, cellular and nuclear atypia, tissue invasion and tumour emboli formation. Interestingly, mild mononuclear inflammation was observed, and mycobacterial culture isolated an acid-fast-positive bacterium identified as Mycobacterium chelonae through Sanger sequencing of rpoB and 16S rRNA, combined with Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis. This is the first case report of a malignant piscine chromatophoroma with concurrent inflammation and isolation of Mycobacterium, highlighting the need for further studies to investigate a potential association.

One Health approach to hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas): Molecular detection in quilombola communities and their dogs in Brazil

Arca - Repositório Institucional da Fiocruz · 2025-01-01

One Health approach to hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas): Molecular detection in quilombola communities and their dogs in Brazil

One Health · 2025-04-01 · 7 citations

Hemoplasmas (hemotropic mycoplasmas) are obligatory red blood cell bacteria that may infect and cause anemia in several mammalian species. IAccordingly, the present study assessed four quilombola communities during six on-field expeditions between December 2021 and March 2022 in the central-eastern Paraná State, southern Brazil. Overall, 12/208 (5.8 %) quilombola individuals were positive for hemoplasma infection by qPCR. Results of 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing confirmed Mycoplasma heamocanis infection in two human samples. In addition, hemoplasma infection was detected by qPCR in 19/100 (19.0 %) dogs including 16/19 (84.2 %) dogs for Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum, 7/19 (3.7 %) for M. haemocanis , and 4/19 (21.0 %) for both. To the author's knowledge, this is the first One Health approach study of hemoplasma detection in quilombola individuals along with their dogs as vulnerable populations worldwide, with M. heamocanis detection in both human and companion animals.

Hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) in indigenous populations and their dogs living in reservation areas, Brazil

Scientific Reports · 2025-03-07 · 9 citations

Although hemoplasma infection has been widely described in animals, a few studies have been conducted involving human populations, mostly as case reports. This was a cross-sectional epidemiological study that accessed hemoplasma infection in individuals and dogs from ten Indigenous communities of southern and southeastern Brazil. A total of 23/644 (3.6%) individuals of ten Indigenous communities tested positive to hemoplasmas by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) (cycle threshold; Ct ≤ 34.4), with 3/644 (0.5%) Mycoplasma haemocanis detection. In addition, 91/416 (21.9%) dogs were positive to hemoplasmas by qPCR, with 54/91 (59.3%) for M. haemocanis, 27/91 (29.7%) for Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum, and 10/91 (11.0%) for both. Molecular diagnosis of M. haemocanis in Indigenous people herein may be consequence of daily close contact with dogs and different potential vectors. Although apparently healthy individuals, hemoplasma infection should be considered as differential diagnosis in likely overexposed populations, such as Indigenous individuals.

What’s your diagnosis? Globular to amorphous material in peripheral blood smears

Veterinary Clinical Pathology · 2025-06-03

Three 8-week-old research dogs (two male intact Victorian Bulldogs and one female intact Shih Tzu) had peripheral blood submitted to the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital Clinical Pathology Laboratory (PUVHCPL) for a health screening. These dogs were enrolled in a study aimed at understanding the impact of ground transportation on puppy welfare. All research dogs were considered healthy and had no significant abnormalities observed on physical exam. The dogs were not currently being injected with any fluids or medications. However, as a form of pain management during blood draws, lidocaine cream was applied locally at the blood draw site five minutes before blood collection on each dog. The blood draw site was performed with a 22-, 23-, or 25-gauge needle and included either the jugular vein or cephalic vein. The medical technologist at PUVHCPL observed an unknown material observed at the feathered edge of all blood smears from these dogs, which triggered a review by the clinical pathologist for further evaluation. The peripheral blood of one Victorian Bulldog was analyzed using the Advia 2120i Hematology System (Siemens, Washington, DC). Additionally, all three research dogs had peripheral blood smears stained with Modified Wright stain and processed using the Siemens Hema-Tek 3000 system. Since the other two research dogs were only submitted for slide review, their blood was not analyzed by the Advia system. The scatterplots from the Victorian Bulldog only showed abnormalities in the “Baso” channel (Figure 1), where a continuous, linear abnormality is seen going through the mononuclear area of the scatterplot and into where basophils are typically located. This abnormality is presumed to be due to the lidocaine gel since no other abnormalities that could cause this change were noted in the dog's peripheral blood. The smears were evaluated by a clinical pathology resident (EA) and deemed to be of good diagnostic quality without evidence of any age-related changes. Leukocyte numbers and erythrocyte density of two dogs were within normal limits. One dog had minimal macrocytic hypochromic anemia. A few reactive lymphocytes, as well as a moderate amount of poikilocytes, rare polychromatophils, clumped platelets, and rare large platelets, were observed on all of the blood smears. Despite clumping and mild size variability, a manual estimate of platelet numbers was within normal limits. In addition, low to moderate amounts of amorphous to globular, purple to magenta, extracellular material was observed at the feathered edge and occasionally in the monolayer of the peripheral blood smears. Differentials for this material included an artifact of sampling or staining precipitate, a proteinaceous or mucinous material, or material associated with the use of lidocaine cream (Uber Numb 5% Lidocaine Numbing Cream, UberScientific, LLC, Lexington, KT)1 as part of pain management during blood draws. To verify that this material was associated with the use of lidocaine cream, the researchers provided the cream for further investigation. Whole blood in 3.0-mL K2-EDTA tubes from one dog and horse were obtained from excess samples. These samples were mixed gently and slowly warmed to ambient temperature. Four to five drops of each blood sample (dog and horse) were placed into two separate test tubes, and a small amount of the lidocaine cream (less than 0.5 g) was gently mixed with the blood. Another test tube not containing lidocaine cream was used as a control for each species. Peripheral blood smears were made from each test tube, stained with Modified Wright stain using the Siemens Hema-Tek 3000, and evaluated by the same clinical pathology resident (EA). As seen in Figures 2A and 3A, no globular to amorphous material is seen at the feathered edge. However, in Figures 2B and 3B, where the lidocaine cream was added to the peripheral blood, abundant amounts of globular to amorphous, purple to magenta material can be seen at the feathered edge. This material was morphologically indistinguishable from the unknown material identified on the blood smears from the research animals (Figure 4). Therefore, we concluded that the material at the feathered edge of the blood smears from these research dogs was consistent with the lidocaine cream used for pain management. Lidocaine cream Uber Numb 5% Lidocaine Numbing Cream, UberScientific, is a topical anesthetic commonly used to temporarily relieve pain, itching, or swelling associated with anorectal disorders as well as relieve pain during blood draws in humans.1 For the research dogs in this case, the cream was used for pain relief during the blood draw and to prevent negative behavioral reactions during future blood draws. The amorphous component of the material seen on the peripheral blood smear is somewhat similar to what is found on cytology samples having ultrasound gel contamination.2 This may be due to ultrasound gel and the lidocaine cream having similar ingredients (disodium EDTA, distilled water, and propylene glycol). However, the lidocaine cream has a more globular appearance than the granular, bright purple material associated with ultrasound gel. This article highlights the importance of knowing the characteristics of artifacts that can be seen in peripheral blood smears of animals. Different artifacts, such as lidocaine cream and ultrasound gel, will have different appearances on blood smears stained with Modified Wright stain, and knowing these characteristics will allow pathologists and technicians to identify these artifacts and relay findings to the clinicians. In conclusion, the globular to amorphous, purple to magenta material seen on the peripheral blood smears of the research dogs was due to lidocaine cream contamination of the blood sample during collection. The addition of lidocaine cream to blood samples, ex vivo, supports this conclusion. To the authors' knowledge, documentation of this finding has not been previously reported. The authors have no conflicts of interest.