58 - Hemotropic Mycoplasma Infections

Abstract

•Cause: Mycoplasma haemocanis and “Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum” in dogs, and Mycoplasma haemofelis, “Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum,” and “Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis” in cats. All are gram-negative, obligate epierythrocytic bacteria that belong to the family Mycoplasmataceae.•First Described: M. haemocanis (basonym Haemobartonella canis [Benjamin and Lumb 1959] nom. rev. Bartonella canis, Germany [ex. Kikuth 1928]); M. haemofelis (basonym Haemobartonella felis [Flint and Moss 1953] nom. rev. Eperythrozoon felis, South Africa [ex. Clark 1942]).•Affected Hosts: Domesticated dogs and cats, wild canidae, and wild felidae. Other hemoplasma species cause disease in a variety of other animal species.•Intermediate Hosts: Unknown.•Geographic Distribution: Worldwide; prevalence varies geographically.•Primary Mode of Transmission: The mode of transmission in the field is uncertain. Ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus in particular) are suspected to transmit M. haemocanis. Other unidentified arthropod vectors may also be involved. Biting or aggressive interactions are a suspected mode, and possibly vertical transmission. Experimentally, transmission can occur through ingestion or injection of infected blood.•Major Clinical Signs: Fever, lethargy, inappetence, weakness, pallor, and icterus.•Differential Diagnoses: Primary IMHA, other infectious diseases (e.g., cytauxzoonosis, FIV infection, FeLV infection, FIP), Heinz body anemia, and inherited erythrocyte disorders (e.g., pyruvate kinase deficiency, red cell fragility disorders).•Human Health Significance: Infections have also been described in humans with novel hemoplasma species, as well as species that have possibly originated in animals such as the cat or dog, pigs, and sheep, raising the possibility of zoonotic infections.