Hemotrophic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas), Bartonella sp., Hepatozoon sp. and Cytauxzoon felis are prominent pathogens that circulate between cats and invertebrate hosts. The present study aimed to detect the presence of DNA from hemoplasmas, Bartonella sp., Hepatozoon sp. and Cytauxzoon felis, and then confirm it by means of sequencing, in blood samples from cats in Cuiabá, MT, Brazil. From February 2009 to February 2011, blood samples with added EDTA were collected from 163 cats that were being housed in four different animal shelters in the city of Cuiabá, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil and from 15 cats that were admitted to the veterinary hospital of the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT). Out of the 178 cats sampled, 15 (8.4%) were positive for hemoplasmas: four (2.2%) for Mycoplasma haemofelis, 12 (6.7%) for 'Candidatus M. haemominutum' and one (0.5%) for 'Candidatus M. turicensis'. One cat (0.5%), a patient that was attended at the veterinary hospital, was coinfected with M. haemofelis, 'Candidatus M. haemominutum' and 'Candidatus M. turicensis', based on sequencing confirmation. Four cats were positive for Bartonella spp.: three (1.7%) for B. henselae and one (0.5%) for B. clarridgeiae. None of the animals showed Cytauxzoon sp. or Hepatozoon sp. DNA in their blood samples. This study showed that cats housed in animal shelters in the city of Cuiabá, state of Mato Grosso, are exposed to hemoplasmas and Bartonella species.

Communication

Using sticky traps, a total of 533 (72.04 % males) phlebotomine sandflies were collected in urban and periurban areas of Rome during three consecutive sandfly seasons between 1987-1989. Five species were identified, 4 belonging to the genus Phlebotomus and one to the genus Sergentomyia. P. perniciosus (87.80 %) was the more abundant species followed by S. minuta (8.82 %), P. perfiliewi (2.82 %), P. mascittii (0.38 %) and P. papatasi (0.18 %). Some observations on the sandfly distribution in the urban area are discussed. Cinq cent cinquante trois phlébotomes, dont 72,04 % mâles, ont été capturés pendant une enquête entomologique utilisant les pièges adhésifs dans des zones urbaines et périurbaines de Rome. L 'enquête a été effectuée par trois ans de suite, de 1987 à 1989, pendant les mois chauds de juin à octobre. Cinq espèces ont été identifiées. Quatre appartenant au genre Phlebotomus et une au genre Sergentomyia. P. perniciosus (87.80 %) a été l'espèce la plus abondante suivie par S. minuta (8,82 %), P. perfiliewi (2,82 %), P. mascittii (0,38 %) et P. papatasi (0,18 %). La présence des dif férentes espèces des phlébotomes a été considérée par rapport à l'hétérogénéité des conditions de développement urbain des zones prospectées.