Haemoplasma infection is not a common cause of canine immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia in the UK

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the two canine haemoplasma species, Mycoplasma haemocanis and “Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum,” are commonly associated with immune‐mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA) in UK dogs. Methods: Three groups of dogs were recruited to the study: anaemic dogs with primary IMHA (n=37); anaemic dogs not meeting the inclusion criteria for primary IMHA (n=77) and non‐anaemic dogs (n=113). DNA was extracted from 100 μl of blood and subjected to real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays for both species of Mycoplasma. Each assay incorporated co‐amplification of canine glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) as an endogenous internal control. Results: Canine GAPDH was successfully amplified by qPCR from all 227 canine blood samples but none contained M. haemocanis or “Candidatus M. haematoparvum” DNA. Clinical Significance: Haemoplasma infection is uncommon in dogs in the UK and no evidence was found that these organisms act as triggers for IMHA.

Infectious agent screening in canine blood donors in the United Kingdom

“…Haemotropic mycoplasmas are not considered to be common in the UK dog population; Warman et al . () reported that 227 dogs demonstrated negative PCR results for both Mycoplasma haemocanis and Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum in a study regarding the possible correlation between haemolytic anaemia and haemotropic mycoplasma infection in dogs in the UK. There are, however, occasional reports of haemotropic mycoplasma infection in non‐travelled UK dogs.…”

Haemoparasites of free-roaming dogs associated with several remote Aboriginal communities in Australia

“…Canine haemoplasma prevalence outside of Australia has ranged from 0% in the UK [5] to 40% in Sudan [6], with higher prevalences tending to be seen in warmer climates. This compares to a haemoplasma prevalence rate of 54% in the free-roaming canine population described in this study.…”

Infection with Hemotropic Mycoplasma Species in Patients with or without Extensive Arthropod or Animal Contact

“…"Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum" was originally detected and characterized in the blood of a splenectomized dog from the United States with hemic neoplasia (27). Subsequently, the same "Candidatus" species was found in other dogs in the United States (27) and in canids from Brazil (28), Europe (8,(29)(30)(31)(32), and Australia (33)(34)(35). Although ticks, in particular Rhipicephalus sanguineus (the brown dog tick), have been suggested as vectors for canine hemotropic mycoplasma transmission, there are no experimental data to support vector competence by any tick species (8,28,30,32,33,35,36).…”