Analysis of novel haemotrophic mycoplasma isolates with main focus on significance of haemotrophic mycoplasma infections in horses

Abstract

Haemotrophic mycoplasmas (HM), small, cell wall-less, uncultivable bacteria, reside on the surface of mammalian red blood cells (RBCs). They were first described in the early 20th century as Eperythrozoon and Haemobartonella species within the group of Rickettsia. In the late 1990s, they were reclassified as Mycoplasma species within the group of Mollicutes. In most animal species, a HM infection is accompanied by haemolytic anaemia, and clinical signs may include decreased exercise tolerance, lack of appetite, poor weight gain, and i Show more