Assessing cross-species transmission of hemoplasmas at the wild-domestic felid interface in Chile using genetic and landscape variables analysis

Abstract

The co-occurrence of domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) and wild felids in rural landscapes can facilitate pathogen transmission. However, in the relatively-isolated regions of southern South America there have been no comprehensive studies to assess disease transmission risks between domestic cats and forest-dwelling wild felids such as guigna (Leopardus guigna). We evaluated hemoplasma infection and the possibility of transmission between domestic cats and guignas by comparing spatial and phylogenetic patterns of pathogen prevalence. Blood/spleen samples were collected from 102 wild guignas and 262 co-occurring rural domestic cats across the entire distribution range of guigna in Chile. Hemoplasma infection was assessed by direct sequencing of the 16S RNA gene. Infection with hemoplasmas was common and geographically widespread across different bioclimatic areas for both species. The most common feline Mycoplasma species in guigna and domestic cats were Candidatus M. haemominutum (CMhm) (15.7% guigna; 10.3% domestic cat) and Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf) (9.8% guigna, 6.1% domestic cat). A previously undescribed Mycoplasma sp. sequence was found in two guignas and one cat. Continuous forest-landscapes were associated with higher hemoplasma-prevalence in guignas. Shared hemoplasma nucleotide sequence types between guigna and domestic cats were rare, suggesting that cross-species transmission between guignas and domestic cats may occur, but is probably uncommon. Ectoparasites, which have been linked with hemoplasma transmission, were not found on guignas and were infrequent on domestic cats. Our results suggest that transmission pathways vary among hemoplasma species and, contrary to our predictions, domestic cats did not appear to be the main driver of hemoplasma infection in guignas in these human-dominated landscapes.

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

“…Likewise, M. haemofelis was previously identified in one Darwin fox (Lycalopex fulvipes) from Chiloe (Cabello et al, 2013), and in kodkods (Leopardus guigna) (9.8% [10/102]) from southern Chile (Sacristán et al, 2019). As described before in mustelids, haemotropic Mycoplasma spp.…”

“…It is suggested that the haemoplasma transmission network can involve kodkod and Darwin foxes (Sacristán et al, 2019).…”

“…In Chile, most studies that evaluated the presence and molecular characterization of bartonellae and haemoplasmas were performed in dogs (Müller, et al., 2018; Soto et al., 2017; Weinborn‐astudillo et al., 2019), cats (Merino et al., 2011; Müller et al., 2017; Walker Vergara et al., 2016) and associated fleas (Müller, et al., 2018; Pérez‐Martínez et al., 2009). In wild animals, haemoplasmas have been detected in Darwin's fox ( Lycalopex fulvipes ) (Cabello et al., 2013), bats (Millán et al., 2019) and kodkod ( Leopardus guigna ) (Sacristán et al., 2019).…”

Molecular Survey and Genetic Diversity of Hemoplasmas in Rodents from Chile

“…Previous studies supported the fact that hemotrophic mycoplasmas have evolved along with a broad diversity of mammal species [ 3 , 70 ]. Chile is not an exception, since hemoplasmas have already been reported in dogs, cats, South American camelids, and wild animals (foxes, kodkod, and bats) [ 43 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 71 , 72 ]. To our knowledge, this is the first report of hemotrophic mycoplasmas in rodents from Chile.…”

“…In Chile, hemoplasmas have been reported in dogs [ 41 , 42 , 43 ], cats [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ], camelids [ 47 ], and associated fleas [ 45 ]. In wild animals, even though hemoplasmas were detected in Darwin’s foxes ( Lycalopex fulvipes ) [ 48 ], bats ( Histiotus macrotus , Histiotus montanus and Myotis chiloensis ) [ 49 ], and kodkods ( Leopardus guigna ) [ 46 ], there are no studies on rodents from Chile so far.…”