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M ALAYSIAN J OURNAL OF V ETERINARY R ESEARCH V OLUME 5 N O . 1 J ANUARY 2014
distal portion of the hind limbs, transient last for 14 to 28 days, it can be observed
fever, prefemoral lymphadenopathy, that Howell Jolly Bodies are found in
rough coat, dramatically decreased milk red blood cells. These are remnants of the
production and subsequent infertility and nucleus in red blood cells which are still
weight loss have been reported (Smith et al., immature (Neimark et al., 2001).
1990). Recently, other as yet unclassified Pangolins, also referred to as a scaly
haemotrophic Mycoplasmas have been anteater or trenggiling, is a mammal
discovered in cattle in Switzerland with of the order Pholidota, and the genus
severe anaemia that were co-infected with Manis, has large keratin scales covering
M. wenyonii and Anaplasma marginale its skin, and is the only known mammal
(Hofmann-Lehmann et al., 2004). with this adaptation (Briggs, 2006). It
However, since 2001, Eperythrozoon is globally classified as an endangered
sp. are classified as Mycoplasma sp. species, commonly hunted worldwide and
(Neimark et al., 2001) as there is an smuggled mostly to China for preparation
80% similarity based on 16S rRNA of traditional medicine. Pangolins are
gene sequences. However, it has been listed as endangered from the International
ascertained that E. wenyonii belongs to a Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
group of Mycoplasmas that attach to and Red List of Threatened species, due to
grow on the surface of red blood cells high levels of hunting primarily for its
(Neimark et al., 2001) and not able to meat and scales believed to cure cancer
be cultured artificially (Uilenberg et al., and asthma (Wassener, 2013). Every
2006). Although the mode of transmission year, large numbers of pangolins are
for this infection is unknown, there is recovered from smugglers in Asia and
evidence that fl ies, lice and mosquitoes Africa. In Malaysia too, live pangolins
may serve as mechanical vectors and oral are sometimes recovered and sent to the
transmission also seems likely (Prullage Wildlife Department for health screening
et al., 1993; Smith et al., 1990). before being released into their natural
In general, Mycoplasmas are gram- habitat or rehabilitated in zoos and national
negative bacteria, lack a cell wall and is parks. Under such stressful conditions,
only 0.2 m to 0.3 m in size. It is an when caught, these pangolins may contract
aerobic and facultative anaerobic organism. infections such as eperythrozoonosis. The
Blood sucking insects (mosquitoes, flies) Veterinary Research Institute, received
can be vectors for Mycoplasmas (Nicholas blood samples in EDTA from sixteen
et al., 2008). Mycoplasmas also infect the pangolins under the care of the Wildlife
surface of red blood cells of the animals, Department. This paper describes the
and excessive infection can lead to illthrift, observations from blood smears of these
anaemia, jaundice, dark red urine and can pangolins.
be fatal. During an outbreak, which can
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V OLUME 5 N O . 1 J ANUARY 2014 M ALAYSIAN J OURNAL OF V ETERINARY R ESEARCH
Figure 3. Eperythrozoon sp. (Mycoplasma Figure 4. Howell Jolly Bodies in red blood
sp.) cell
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