Molecular survey of Bartonella spp. and haemoplasmas in American minks (Neovison vison)

The aim of this study was to perform a molecular survey and characterizeBartonellaspp. and haemotropicMycoplasma(haemoplasmas) in invasive American minks (Neovison vison) from Southern Chile. Additionally, we addressed risk factors for positivity in both groups of agents. Blood and/or tissue samples from 246 minks were analysed by qPCR targeting thenuoGgene forBartonellaspp. and conventional (c)PCR for 16S rRNA for haemotropicMycoplasmaspp.nuoGqPCR-positiveBartonellaspp. samples were submitted to cPCR assays (ITS,ribC,gltA,rpoB,pap-31 andftsZgenes) to perform phylogenetic inferences. HaemotropicMycoplasmaspp. 16S-positive samples were further amplified by cPCR targetingRNasePgene (160-210 bp) and by two overlapping 16S rRNA cPCR assays to amplify a larger portion of the gene (1,200bp) for phylogenetics.BartonellaDNA was detected in 8.9% of minks (22/246). Out of 22nuoGqPCR-positive samples, one and two showed positive results in cPCR assays based on ITS andribC, respectively. Consistent sequencing results were obtained for only one ITS sample (464 bp sequence), which shared 99.6% identity withB. clarridgeiae. Two per cent of minks (5/246) were positive for 16S rRNA haemotropicMycoplasma-cPCR assay. Two concatenated sequences of 16S rRNA (1,176 and 1,230 bp) were obtained: one sample shared 97.87% identity with haemotropicMycoplasmasp. from a wild rodent, and the other 96.49% identity with 'CandidatusMycoplasma haematoparvum' from a dog. All BLAST results were supported by phylogenetic analysis. One haemoplasma RNase P sequence shared 94.86% identity withMycoplasma haemofelisfrom a cat. No risk factors for PCR positivity were identified. In a nutshell,Bartonella clarridgeiaeand a potentially novel haemoplasma closely related to haemoplasmas previously reported in rodents, dogs, domestic and wild cats were described for the first time in American minks.