Abstract
This study aimed to determine the prevalence, factors associated, laboratory findings (with and without coinfection by retroviruses) among naturally infected cats by hemoplasmas in northeastern Brazil. For convenience, 200 domesticated and healthy cats were selected. Blood samples were taken to perform complete blood counts, serum biochemical, immunochromatography tests and nPCR for FIV and FeLV, and PCR for hemoplasma recognition. An interview was conducted to determine the factors associated with hemoplasmas. A total of 71/200 (35.5%) cats were positive for at least one hemoplasma species. Isolated infections were observed in 12,5% for 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum', 12% for Mycoplasma haemofelis and 3% for 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis'. Regarding copositivity, 2% of the animals were positive for M. haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum', 1.5% for M. haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis', and 4.5% for ' Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis'. No clinical and laboratory changes were observed in the animals that were concomitantly positive for retroviruses and hemoplasmas. Periurban region cats were more likely to be infected by M. haemofelis, while contact with other cats and infection by ' Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis' were associated with 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum'. This study indicates that infection by hemoplasmas is a common find in cats from northeastern Brazil.
Highlights
Mycoplasma haemofelis, ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ (‘Ca. M. haemominutum’) and ‘Ca. M. turicensis’ are Gram‐negative bacteria that act as parasites on the surface of cats’ red blood cells
2% of the animals were positive for M. haemofelis and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’, 1.5% for M. haemofelis and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’, and 4.5% for ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’
Isolated infections were observed in 12.5% (25/200) for ‘Ca. M. haemominutum’, 12% (24/200) for M. haemofelis and 3% (6/200) for ‘Ca. M. turicensis’
Summary
Mycoplasma haemofelis, ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ (‘Ca. M. haemominutum’) and ‘Ca. M. turicensis’ are Gram‐negative bacteria that act as parasites on the surface of cats’ red blood cells These agents are called hemotropic mycoplasmas or feline hemoplasmas and can cause hemotropic mycoplasmosis, in which the main clinical manifestation is anemia (BARKER & TASKER, 2013). Infection by M. haemofelis tends to be more pathogenic, especially in the acute phase of the disease, with massive parasitemia in red blood cells that leads to severe hemolytic anemia (BERENT et al, 1998) Even if this hemoplasma is not the most prevalent type, it will be present in animals with clinical signs or more severe laboratory abnormalities (JENSEN et al, 2001; TASKER et al, 2004). ‘Ca. M. turicensis’ can give rise to moderate to severe anemia (WILLI et al, 2005), correlation between this agent and anemia is not always possible, since isolated infections are uncommon (PETERS et al, 2008; SYKES et al, 2008)
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