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Infection and Immunity, February 2009, p. 576-584, Vol. 77, No. 2
0019-9567/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.00773-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Mycoplasma suis Invades Porcine Erythrocytes{triangledown}

K. Groebel,1 K. Hoelzle,1 M. M. Wittenbrink,1 U. Ziegler,2 and L. E. Hoelzle1*

Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 270, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland,1 Center for Microscopy and Image Analysis, University of Zurich, Gloriastrasse 30, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland2

Received 19 June 2008/ Returned for modification 7 August 2008/ Accepted 6 November 2008

Mycoplasma suis belongs to the hemotrophic mycoplasma group and causes infectious anemia in pigs. According to the present state of knowledge, this organism adheres to the surface of erythrocytes but does not invade them. We found a novel M. suis isolate that caused severe anemia in pigs with a fatal disease course. Interestingly, only marginal numbers of the bacteria were visible on and between the erythrocytes in acridine orange-stained blood smears for acutely diseased pigs, whereas very high loads of M. suis were detected in the same blood samples by quantitative PCR. These findings indicated that M. suis is capable of invading erythrocytes. By use of fluorescent labeling of M. suis and examination by confocal laser scanning microscopy, as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy, we proved that the localization of M. suis was intracellular. This organism invades erythrocytes in an endocytosis-like process and is initially surrounded by two membranes, and it was also found floating freely in the cytoplasm. In conclusion, we were able to prove for the first time that a member of the hemotrophic mycoplasma group is able to invade the erythrocytes of its host. Such colonization should protect the bacterial cells from the host's immune response and hamper antibiotic treatment. In addition, an intracellular life cycle may explain the chronic nature of hemotrophic mycoplasma infections and should serve as the foundation for novel strategies in hemotrophic mycoplasma research (e.g., treatment or prophylaxis).

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Winterthurerstrasse 270, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland. Phone: 41-44-6358613. Fax: 41-44-6358912. E-mail: lhoelzle{at}vetbakt.uzh.ch

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 17 November 2008.

Editor: J. F. Urban, Jr.

Infection and Immunity, February 2009, p. 576-584, Vol. 77, No. 2
0019-9567/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.00773-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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