The role of capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) as hosts for hemoplasmas in an urban park of Brazilian Midwest

Hemoplasmas (hemotropic mycoplasmas) are Gram-negative bacteria that bind to the surface of red blood cells of mammals and may cause hematological alterations in the infected host, and in urban environments, wildlife species may act as important reservoirs of these agents. The study aimed to evaluate, through molecular analysis, the infection of hemoplasmas in capybaras from the Parque das Nações Indígenas, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Additionally, we evaluated the health status of infected and non-infected capybaras by haematological parameters. The results of PCR assays based on the 16 S rRNA gene confirmed the presence of hemoplasmas in 84.6% (55/65) of the samples. Phylogenetic inferences based on 16 S and 23 S rRNA genes positioned the sequences into the ´Candidatus Mycoplasma haematohydrochoerus ´ clade. The findings suggest that the high prevalence, low genetic variability, and unchanged hematological parameters may indicate host tolerance or adaptation to ‘Ca . M. haematohydrochoerus’ infection.