First Report of Molecular Evidence of Hemotropic Mycoplasmas in Dogs from Eastern Algeria: 16S rRNA Diversity and Associated Factors

Hemotropic mycoplasmas are emerging veterinary pathogens; however, their epidemiological status in North Africa remains largely unknown. This research was carried out in eastern Algeria to evaluate both the molecular prevalence and the genetic diversity of canine hemotropic mycoplasmas and to investigate the associated risk factors. In this cross-sectional study, blood samples from 301 dogs (202 from Khenchela, 99 from Setif) were tested with a pan-Mycoplasma 16S rRNA PCR, and the amplicons were Sanger-sequenced. Chi-square tests, Welch’s t-tests, multiple logistic regression and multiple correspondence analysis were used to test associations with age, sex, breed, activity, housing, season, altitude and district. Overall prevalence was 21.9% (66 dogs were PCR-positive). The dominant species was Mycoplasma haemocanis, comprising 14.29% (43 dogs) of all dogs tested. The remaining positive samples were distributed among several minor variants: Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum was found in 6.98% (21 dogs), while Mycoplasma suis and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicense were each found in 0.33% (one dog each). Infection was not statistically significantly associated with any of the studied factors. In the univariable analysis, altitude showed a global association with PCR positivity (p = 0.0069), but no factor (altitude, age or province) remained significantly associated after multivariable adjustment. The multiple correspondence analysis did not show any significant effect of environmental and geographical variables in terms of structure. This is the first study to report molecular evidence of canine hemotropic mycoplasma infections in Algeria with a high prevalence and predominance of M. haemocanis and two atypical, non-canine-associated species detected in single dogs. Because no clinical data were collected, PCR positivity indicates DNA detection rather than confirmed infection. The results provide a baseline for surveillance and highlight the need for further research on the vector and transmission routes.