Widespread occurrence of hemotropic mycoplasmas in Culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus ) and Chilla (L. griseus ) foxes in Chile

AITOR CEVIDANES; SOPHIA DI CATALDO; BERNARDITA JULIO-KALAJZIC; SACRISTÁN, IRENE; CARLA BARRÍA; SALLABERRY-PINCHEIRA, NICOLE; JULIANA VIANNA; JAVIER MILLÁN

Chiapas

Conferencia; 66th Wildlife Disease Association Annual International Conference; 2017

Wildlife Disease Association (WDA)

Hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) are epicellular erythrocytic bacterial parasites. Hemoplasmas are known to be the causative agents of acute and chronic infectious anemia in several mammalian species and have been detected in a range of wild felids but rarely in free-living wild canids. In Chile, an unexpected high prevalence (57%) was found in Darwin´s foxes (Lycalopex fulvipes) from Chiloé Island, Southern Chile. Nothing is known about it presence in other fox species in the country. The way of transmission of hemoplasma is unclear, but bloodsucking arthropods are suspected to be the vectors. Rhipicephalus sanguineus is thought to be the main vector, but there is not experimental evidence available. The aims of this study are: to investigate the occurrence of Mycoplasma sp. in culpeo (L. culpaeus) and chilla (L. griseus) foxes, and to explore differences among 3 different bioclimatic macro-regions of Chile.