Hemotropic mycoplasmas infection in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from northeastern Brazil.

Two species of hemotropic mycoplasmas (HM) are known to infect large domestic ruminants, Mycoplasma wenyonii and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos'. Although HM has been described in cattle worldwide, data in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) remain scarce. Accordingly, the aim was to determine the occurrence of HM in water buffaloes from northeastern Brazil. A total of 101/290 (34.83%) buffaloes were positive for HM (16 M. wenyonii alone, 6 'Ca. M. haemobos' alone and 79 both). This was the first report of M. wenyonii infection in ruminants from Brazil. Clinical signs of hemoplasmosis in buffaloes remain unknown.