Prevalence of haemotropic mycoplasmas and blood piroplasmids in domestic and wild ruminants in Slovakia, Central Europe

Abstract

Some piroplasmids and haemotropic mycoplasmas are important pathogens affecting domestic and wild animals, leading to various clinical symptoms and economic losses. This study aimed to determine, for the first time, the prevalence of haemotropic mycoplasmas and Babesia/Theileria species in domestic and wild ruminants in Slovakia, Central Europe. Blood samples from cattle, goats, and sheep (n = 549) and liver samples from red deer (n = 43) were collected across Slovakia between 2008 and 2024. DNA was extracted and screened by PCR and sequencing for haemotropic mycoplasmas and piroplasmids. The overall prevalence of haemotropic mycoplasmas was highest in cattle at 53.3% (124/232) and in sheep at 60% (90/150), whereas the prevalence in goats was substantially lower (4.2%; 7/167). Specifically, Mycoplasma wenyonii and “Candidatus Mycoplasma haematobovis” were detected in cattle, while Mycoplasma ovis-like microorganisms were identified in sheep and goats. For Babesia/Theileria species, a prevalence of 1.8% was recorded in goats, with no detections in sheep, and a prevalence of 65.1% was confirmed in red deer, where sequencing confirmed the presence of Theileria capreoli. This study presents the first report on the prevalence of haemotropic mycoplasmas in ruminants in Slovakia, highlighting the need for further research into transmission dynamics and potential zoonotic risks.