Haemoplasmas in wild rodents: Routes of transmission and infection dynamics

Abstract

The way that some parasites and pathogens persist in the hostile environment of their host for long periods remains to be resolved. Here, longitudinal field surveys were combined with laboratory experiments to investigate the routes of transmission and infection dynamics of such a pathogen-a wild rodent haemotropic bacterium, specifically a Mycoplasma haemomuris-like bacterium. Fleaborne transmission, direct rodent-to-rodent transmission and vertical transmission from fleas or rodents to their offspring were experimentally quantified, and indications were found that the main route of bacterial transmission is direct, although its rate of successful transmission is low (~20%). The bacterium's temporal dynamics was then compared in the field to that observed under a controlled infection experiment in field-infected and laboratory-infected rodents, and indications were found, under all conditions, that the bacterium reached its peak infection level after 25-45 days and then decreased to low bacterial loads, which persist for the rodent's lifetime. These findings suggest that the bacterium relies on persistency with low bacterial loads for long-term coexistence with its rodent host, having both conceptual and applied implications.

Molecular Survey and Genetic Diversity of Hemoplasmas in Rodents from Chile

“…Rodents act as hosts for a variety of zoonotic pathogens [ 22 ] and several species of ticks and fleas [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Hemotrophic mycoplasmas in rodents have been reported in Brazil [ 14 , 15 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ], Hungary [ 22 ], Japan [ 2 , 20 , 31 ], and Israel [ 32 ]. While Mycoplasma coccoides and M. haemomuris are the most commonly recognized hemoplasmas in the blood of wild and laboratory rodents, respectively [ 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ], novel Mycoplasma spp., which has yet to to be fully characterized, have been described in rodents from Brazil [ 14 , 15 , 27 , 28 ] and Japan [ 20 ].…”

“…While Mycoplasma coccoides and M. haemomuris are the most commonly recognized hemoplasmas in the blood of wild and laboratory rodents, respectively [ 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ], novel Mycoplasma spp., which has yet to to be fully characterized, have been described in rodents from Brazil [ 14 , 15 , 27 , 28 ] and Japan [ 20 ]. These agents rely on the persistence of low bacterial loads for long-term coexistence with their rodent hosts [ 32 ]. Even though most hemotrophic mycoplasmas are host specific, interspecies infections [ 37 ] and species with zoonotic potential are reported in rodents [ 38 , 39 , 40 ], supporting the importance of studying hemoplasmas in those hosts.…”

The dynamics between limited-term and lifelong coinfecting bacterial parasites in wild rodent hosts

“…(hemoplasmas) parasitize the RBC outer membrane whereas Bartonella spp. penetrate the RBCs], transmission routes and persistency levels (Barker and Tasker, 2013;Cohen et al, 2018;Gutiérrez et al, 2015;Harms and Dehio, 2012). Importantly, the species from these two genera that coinfect Gerbillina rodents demonstrate two ends of the invasionpersistency continuum.…”

Ecological and evolutionary drivers of hemoplasma infection and bacterial genotype sharing in a Neotropical bat community

“…Obligate reliance of Mycoplasma spp. on host cells and more chronic infections likely explains 498 their propensity to specialize (Citti & Blanchard, 2013;Cohen et al, 2018). More broadly, 499 however, using genetics to infer pathogen sharing, rather than coarser phylogenetic scales (e.g., 500 species complexes or genera), is increasingly showing that many bacterial strains may be more 501 host specific (Withenshaw, Devevey, Pedersen, & Fenton, 2016 Glossophaga soricina and Saccopteryx bilineata (Phyllostomidae and Emballonuridae).…”

“…The Neotropics have remarkable bat diversity owing to adaptive radiation in 87 the Phyllostomidae (Gunnell & Simmons, 2012), producing a range of feeding strategies (e.g., 88 frugivory, carnivory, sanguivory), body sizes, and roost preferences (Monteiro & Nogueira, 89 2011). Hemoplasmas are intracellular erythrocytic bacteria transmitted through direct contact 90 (Cohen et al, 2018;Museux et al, 2009) and also possibly arthropod vectors (Willi, Boretti, 91 Meli, et al, 2007). Hemoplasmas can cause acute and chronic anemia, especially for 92 immunocompromised hosts; however, many animals develop inapparent infections and are 93 asymptomatic (Messick, 2004).…”