MOLECULAR DETECTION OF MYCOPLASMAHAEMOCANIS AND CANDIDATUS MYCOPLASMAHAEMATOPARVUM INRHIPICEPHALUS SANGUINEUS TICK SPECIESCOLLECTED FROM DOGS INADANA PROVINCE OF TURKEY

摘要

Mycoplasma haemocanis (Mhc) and Candida- tus Mycoplasma haematoparvum (CMhp) are hemo- tropic mycoplasma species known to be specific todogs. Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato) ticks have been suggested to be the main vector in trans- mission, but a clear relationship between tick infes- tation and the disease has yet to be established under field conditions. This study aimed to investigate the presence of Mhc and CMhp in R. sanguineus (s.l.) s. ticks that are considered to be a possible vector for hemoplasma infections. Using the species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, the presence of Mhc and CMhp was investigated in total of 312 archived adult tick samples collected from 63 pet dogs kept in the municipal dog shelter of Adana province located in the Mediterranean region ofTur- key. Although R. sanguineus (s.l.) ticks tested nega- tive for Mhc, 2.56% (n=8) were positive for CMhp. There was a statistically significant difference in the Mhc and CMhp detection rates in R. sanguineus (s.l.) ticks (2.56%, 95% CI: 0.81-4.31 P<0.05). To our knowledge, this is the first study to reveal the pres- ence of CMhp in R. sanguineus (s.l.) ticks collected from dogs in Turkey.