Molecular survey of hemoplasmas in asymptomatic vicunas (Vicugna vicugna) from the Pampa Galeras Barbara D'Achille National Reserve in Peru

Hemotrophic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) are epierythrocytic bacteria that infect wild and domestic animals, and can cause anemia in some of them. They are considered emerging and zoonotic pathogens, causing serious health problems in wildlife. Candidatus Mycoplasma haemolamae is the only species of hemoplasma that infects domestic South American camelids (alpacas and llamas), with limited studies in wild camelids. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Candidatus M. haemolamae in vicunas (Vicugna vicugna) from the Pampa Galeras National Reserve, located in the Ayacucho region of Peru, using molecular diagnosis. For this, blood samples from 79 vicunas were collected, which were molecularly analyzed by partially amplifying the 16S ribosomal RNA gene of Mycoplasma sp. Fourteen vicunas (17.7 %) were positive for the molecular diagnosis of Mycoplasma sp. All PCR-positive products were sequenced and showed more than 99 % identity with Candidatus M. haemolamae. Statistical analysis showed that tick-infested vicunas had 6.10 odds of presenting Candidatus M. haemolamae compared with tick-free vicunas. Sex and age were not associated with Candidatus M. haemolamae infections. This is the first report of hemoplasmas in vicunas, a wild South American camelid, demonstrating that the pathogen can have both a domestic and a wild life cycle. Future studies are necessary to know the current situation of this pathogen in domestic and wild camelids from other locations in Peru.