Hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. (HMs) are erythrocyte-adherent, cell wall-deficient bacteria commonly associated with infections in immunocompromised mammals, including humans. Increasingly recognized as emerging pathogens, HMs remain poorly characterized in synanthropic rodent populations in mainland Southeast Asia. Thailand, a global biodiversity hotspot, lacks comprehensive data on HM diversity, host range, and circulation dynamics. In this study, we investigated HM infections in wild rodents across six provinces in Thailand and examined the genetic relationships between locally circulating HMs and those reported worldwide. Blood samples were screened using PCR assays targeting the 16S and 23S rRNA genes, followed by Sanger sequencing. Sequence data were used to define nucleotide sequence types (ntSTs), reconstruct phylogenetic relationships, and conduct a tripartite network analysis to explore associations among sampling locations, host species, and HM sequence types. Between April 2021 and January 2025, ten rodent species (Bandicota indica, Bandicota savilei, Maxomys surifer, Maxomys whiteheadi, Menetes berdmorei, Mus caroli, Mus cervicolor, Mus cookii, Rattus exulans, and Rattus tanezumi) were captured across the study sites. Of the 335 blood samples analyzed, 43% (144/335) tested positive for HMs by at least one assay, with infections detected at all sampling locations and in all species except for Mu. cervicolor. Phylogenetic analyses identified eight 16S and nine 23S ntSTs, which clustered into three major groups: G1, closely related to "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemomuris"; G2, comprising unnamed HMs previously reported from Europe and South America; and G3, associated with "Ca. Mycoplasma haematohydrochaerus" and "Ca. Mycoplasma haemosphiggurus". Notably, several 23S rRNA sequences exhibited less than 95% identity to available GenBank references, indicating limited database representation and/or the presence of potentially novel taxa. These findings provide the first molecular evidence of HM circulation in wild rodents in mainland Thailand and substantially expand current knowledge of HM diversity and their potential epidemiological relevance in the region.
- Molecular detection and genetic diversity of hemotropic Mycoplasma species in synanthropic rodents across Thailand
- Wajathip Bulanawichit - Chulalongkorn UniversityKasidit Rison - Chulalongkorn UniversityDimas Novianto - Chulalongkorn UniversityJulien Claude - Université de Montpellier, ISEM - Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution - MontpellierThongchai Ngamprasertwong - Chulalongkorn UniversityAwatsaya Pimsai - Prince of Songkla UniversityMorakot Kaewthamasorn - Chulalongkorn University
- Current Research in Parasitology & Vector-Borne Diseases, Vol.9
- Région Occitanie
- 99259564909311
- ISEM - Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution - Montpellier
- English
- Journal article
- hal-05696324