# Occurrence of Hemotropic Mycoplasmas in Commercial Pig Herds in Southeastern Brazil

## TL;DR

This study found that a significant portion of pigs in Brazil's Espírito Santo region are infected with Mycoplasma suis, a bacteria that affects red blood cells and can lead to health and production issues.

## Contribution

The study reports the prevalence of M. suis in commercial pig farms in Brazil and identifies limitations in current diagnostic methods.

## Key findings

- 31.49% of pig blood samples tested positive for hemoplasmas, with 13.94% specifically infected with M. suis.
- Infection rates were significantly higher in sows compared to other pig categories.
- The study suggests the presence of other hemotropic Mycoplasma species due to discrepancies in genus and species prevalence.

## Abstract

Mycoplasma suis infects pig red blood cells and is linked to anemia, weakened immunity, and production losses. Infected animals may remain subclinical carriers, contributing to pathogen dissemination. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of M. suis in commercial pig farms in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. A total of 416 blood samples from 55 farms were analyzed using conventional PCR targeting the hemotropic Mycoplasmas (16S rRNA) and a species-specific PCR for M. suis (23S rRNA). Among the samples, 131 (31.49%) tested positive for hemoplasmas and 58 (13.94%) for M. suis with a significantly higher frequency in sows (p < 0.01). The Metropolitan microregion showed the highest prevalence (23.53%). The discrepancy between the prevalence for the genus and the species suggests the possible presence of other hemotropic Mycoplasma species and highlights the limitations of 16S rRNA-based assays. These findings emphasize the need for more specific molecular targets and continuous monitoring strategies to control infection in pig farming.