Hemoplasma prevalence and hematological abnormalities associated with infection in three different cat populations from Southern Brazil

• Published in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria 2014-12, Vol.23 (4), p.428-434
• Main Authors: Andrea Pires dos Santos, Francisco de Oliveira Conrado, Joanne Belle Messick, Alexander Welker Biondo, Simone Tostes de Oliveira, Ana Marcia Sá Guimaraes, Naíla Cannes do Nascimento, Viviane Pedralli, Camila Serina Lasta, Félix Hilário Diaz González
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: anemia; cats; hemoplasma; Hemotropic mycoplasma; PCR
• ISSN: 1984-2961
• DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612014079

Three hemoplasma species are recognized in domestic cats: Mycoplasma haemofelis, ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’. We report the prevalence and hematological abnormalities of hemoplasma infection in 369 domestic cats from three different populations (blood donors, hospitalized cats and shelter cats) from Southern Brazil. Complete blood counts were performed at the time of blood collection, and DNA was extracted and tested by conventional PCR for each hemoplasma species. A total of 79 samples (21.40%) were positive for at least one species. The most prevalent hemoplasma was ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’, with 50/369 (13.55%) positive cats, followed by ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’, 10/369 (2.71%), and Mycoplasma haemofelis, 8/369 (2.16%). Mycoplasma haemofelis and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ coinfection was observed in 4/369 (1.08%), whereas ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ in 5/369 (1.35%). Three cats (0.81%) were infected with all three hemoplasmas. There was no association between infection and the different populations. Anemia was associated with Mycoplasma haemofelis and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’, but not with ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’. Male cats and cats with outdoor access were more likely to be infected. Although ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ is believed to cause minimal or no hematological alterations, the infected cats studied herein were more likely to be anemic.