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First molecular detection of Mycoplasma agassizii in captive tortoises in Portugal

2025-08-25Artigo científico Acesso aberto
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dc.contributor.authorLouro, Manuel
dc.contributor.authorPatrício, Rui
dc.contributor.authorPereira, André
dc.contributor.authorValença, Andreia
dc.contributor.authorAlves, Margarida
dc.contributor.institutionVector borne diseases and pathogens (VBD)
dc.contributor.institutionGlobal Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM)
dc.contributor.institutionInstituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT)
dc.contributor.institutionLaboratório Associado de Translacção e Inovação para a Saúde Global - LA Real (Pólo IHMT)
dc.contributor.pblFrontiers Media
dc.date.accessioned2026-02-10T16:10:01Z
dc.date.available2026-02-10T16:10:01Z
dc.date.issued2025-08-25
dc.descriptionFunding Information: The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. Funding was received from FMV-Lusófona University – Scholarship grant FMV (2021–2022). Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2025 Louro, Patrício, Pereira, Valença and Alves.
dc.description.abstractIntroduction: Mycoplasma agassizii is a well-recognized etiologic agent of upper respiratory tract disease in tortoises. Although frequently reported in both captive and wild populations across Europe, its occurrence in Portugal had not been previously documented. This study aimed to investigate the presence of M. agassizii in apparently healthy captive tortoises in mainland Portugal and to evaluate potential host- and management-related factors associated with infection. Methods: Oral swabs were collected from 84 tortoises of 13 species across 3 geographic regions. DNA extraction success and sample integrity were confirmed by partial amplification of the tortoise mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene in 92.9% of cases (78/84), which were then screened for M. agassizii using a species-specific PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Results and discussion: The pathogen DNA was detected in 66.7% (52/78) of individuals. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed species identification, with all sequences forming a strongly supported monophyletic cluster together with M. agassizii reference sequences. A significant association was observed between tortoise genus and M. agassizii infection (p = 0.021), with Chelonoidis exhibiting a significantly lower infection frequency than Testudo (p = 0.029). No statistically significant associations were observed regarding geographic region, housing origin, or group size. These results reveal a high frequency of M. agassizii infection in apparently healthy captive tortoises in Portugal, emphasizing its potential for silent transmission in group or mixed-species settings. Our findings support the inclusion of this pathogen in the differential diagnosis of respiratory disease in tortoises, even when clinical signs are absent and underscore the need for routine molecular surveillance and strengthened biosecurity practices to mitigate transmission risks and foster chelonian conservation efforts.en
dc.description.versionpublishersversion
dc.description.versionpublished
dc.format.extent2815059
dc.identifier.doi10.3389/fvets.2025.1652362
dc.identifier.issn2297-1769
dc.identifier.otherPURE: 130719738
dc.identifier.otherPURE UUID: 2f9ecd37-c6d8-4ec9-83d5-86f6a74bc642
dc.identifier.otherScopus: 105015154689
dc.identifier.otherWOS: 001565710000001
dc.identifier.otherPubMed: 40927172
dc.identifier.otherPubMedCentral: PMC12416086
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10362/200231
dc.identifier.urlhttps://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105015154689
dc.language.isoeng
dc.peerreviewedyes
dc.subjectcaptive tortoises
dc.subjectchelonian health
dc.subjectmolecular epidemiology
dc.subjectMycoplasma agassizii
dc.subjectpolymerase chain reaction
dc.subjectsubclinical infection
dc.subjectGeneral Veterinary
dc.titleFirst molecular detection of Mycoplasma agassizii in captive tortoises in Portugalen
dc.typejournal article
degois.publication.titleFrontiers in Veterinary Science
degois.publication.volume12
dspace.entity.typePublication
rcaap.rightsopenAccess

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