EXOone Haemoplasma spp.

Description

Haemoplasma spp. are haemotropic mycoplasmas that parasitize the surface of erythrocytes in a wide range of mammalian hosts. These wall-less bacteria cannot be cultured in vitro and are primarily detected using molecular methods.
Infection may result in hemolytic anemia, lethargy, weight loss and reduced performance, although many animals remain asymptomatic carriers. Clinical severity varies according to the host species, the infecting haemoplasma and the presence of concurrent diseases or immunosuppression.
Conventional detection based on blood smear examination has limited sensitivity, particularly in animals with low parasitemia or chronic infections. Real-time PCR enables rapid, sensitive and specific detection of haemoplasma DNA directly from clinical samples, supporting analytical detection and monitoring.
This assay detects a broad range of haemotropic mycoplasmas, including Mycoplasma haemocanis, M. haemofelis, M. haemomuris, M. suis, M. parvum, M. wenyonii, Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum, Ca. M. haemobos, Ca. M. haemolamae, Ca. M. haemominutum and Ca. M. turicensis, covering the species most commonly reported in companion animals, livestock and other mammals.