Open Access
Research (Published online: 15-08-2017)
15. Molecular screening for hemotropic mycoplasmas in captive Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) in southern Brazil
Leonilda C. Santos, Odilon Vidotto, Vivien M. Morikawa, Nelson J. R. Santos, Thallitha S. W. J. Vieira, Ivan R. Barros Filho, Rafael F. C. Vieira and Alexander W. Biondo
Veterinary World, 10(8): 924-926

Leonilda C. Santos: Department of Sanitary Engineering, Engineering and Exact Sciences Center, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Parana, Foz do Iguacu, PR 85870-650, Brazil; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Parana, Curitiba, PR 80035-050, Brazil.
Odilon Vidotto: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR 86057-970, Brazil.
Vivien M. Morikawa: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Parana, Curitiba, PR 80035-050, Brazil.
Nelson J. R. Santos: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR 86057-970, Brazil.
Thallitha S. W. J. Vieira: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Parana, Curitiba, PR 80035-050, Brazil.
Ivan R. Barros Filho: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Parana, Curitiba, PR 80035-050, Brazil.
Rafael F. C. Vieira: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Parana, Curitiba, PR 80035-050, Brazil.
Alexander W. Biondo: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Parana, Curitiba, PR 80035-050, Brazil.

doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2017.924-926

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Article history: Received: 10-03-2017, Accepted: 06-07-2017, Published online: 15-08-2017

Corresponding author: Rafael F. C. Vieira

E-mail: rvieira@ufpr.br

Citation: Santos LC, Vidotto O, Morikawa VM, Santos NJR, Vieira TSWJ, Filho IRB, Vieira RFC, Biondo AW (2017) Molecular screening for hemotropic mycoplasmas in captive Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) in southern Brazil, Veterinary World, 10(8): 924-926.
Abstract

Aim: This study is part of an active surveillance program for monitoring animal health status in endangered species, and was conducted to screen captive Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) for hemoplasma infection.

Materials and Methods: A total of 12 blood samples were collected, DNA extracted and further tested by a pan-hemoplasma polymerase chain reaction protocol.

Results: Animals were clinically healthy and not infested by ectoparasites. Although housekeeping gene DNA was successfully amplified, all the Barbary sheep samples tested negative for Mycoplasma sp.

Conclusion: Notwithstanding the negative results, molecular pathogen surveys on Barbary sheep and other exotic wild mammals may provide insights regarding infection of endangered species caused by captivity stress in association with exposure to new pathogens worldwide.

Keywords: aoudads, eperythrozoonosis, hemolytic anemia, hemoplasmas.

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