Unveiling the diversity of hemoplasmas (hemotropic Mycoplasma spp.) in Brazilian wildlife: two decades of molecular discoveries – a scoping review

Hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) are epicellular bacteria of the Mycoplasma genus capable of attaching to mammalian erythrocytes. Recently, reports of hemoplasmas in Brazilian wildlife have increased exponentially, reflecting advances in molecular diagnosis, bioinformatic analyses, and broader access to these tools. The present scoping review updates the current available information on hemoplasmas occurrence and genetic diversity in Brazilian wildlife, including terrestrial, aquatic, and flying mammals, as well as exotic species. The review included 59 scientific papers published between 2007 and 2025. Most records are concentrated in the Atlantic Forest and Pantanal biomes, with rodents showing the highest genetic diversity, potentially reflected by a larger number of analyzed samples. Some mammal groups harbor apparently host-specific hemoplasmas lineages, such as tapirs (Tapirus terrestris), opossums (Didelphis spp.), crab-eating raccoons (Procyon cancrivorus), and neotropical otters (Lontra longicaudis). Collectively, available data demonstrate that hemoplasmas are widespread and frequently reported in Brazilian wildlife. Although the use of multi-locus sequencing and comprehensive phylogenetic reconstructions have provided additional insights when compared to single-gene analyses, their resolution is still limited for clarifying the evolutionary relationships and taxonomic placement of hemoplasmas. Looking ahead, advances in genomic comparisons may further deepen our understanding of hemoplasmas diversity and evolution.