Prevalence and risk factor analysis for feline haemoplasmas in cats from Northern Serbia, with molecular subtyping of feline immunodeficiency virus

Sarvani, Elpida; Tasker, Séverine; Filipović, Milica Kovacˇević; Andrić, Jelena Francuski; Andrić, Nenad; Aquino, Larissa Campos; English, Sarah; Attipa, Charalampos; Leutenegger, Christian M.; Helps, Christopher R; Papasouliotis, Kostas

doi:10.1177/2055116918770037

Cited by 11 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 48 publications

(113 reference statements)

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“…Mycoplasma turicensis" [18,26,40,41] respectively, suggesting that cats with an outdoor lifestyle are at higher risk of haemoplasma infection. Furthermore, the association between FIV and haemoplasma infection revealed in this study, was concordant with those reported in several studies for cats population from different European countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Serbia, Cyprus) [5,41,[43][44][45] suggesting that animals infected with these retroviruses were more susceptible to haemoplasma infection than the FIV-negative cats.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

A molecular survey of vector-borne pathogens and haemoplasmas in owned cats across Italy

et al. 2020

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Background: Feline vector-borne pathogens (FeVBPs) have been increasingly investigated for their impact on cat health and their zoonotic potential. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of FeVBPs and haemoplasmas in cats across Italy and to identify potential risk factors linked to their occurrence. Methods: Blood samples from 958 owned cats living in the North (n = 556), Centre (n = 173) and South (n = 229) of Italy were tested for Babesia spp., Hepatozoon spp., Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp. and filarioids by conventional PCR (cPCR) and for haemoplasmas and Bartonella spp. by SYBR green real-time PCR. Cats included in the study represent a sub-sample from a larger number of animals enrolled in a previous study, which were selected based on the geographical origin. Data on cats' positivity for Leishmania infantum, feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), available from the previous study, were included and examined. Potential risk factors for pathogen infection were assessed in relationship to categorical variables including sex, geographical origin, breed, neutering status and age of cats. Results: Out of the 958 cats, 194 (20.2%) were positive for at least one of the tested pathogens, 89 (16%) from the North, 32 (18.5%) from the Centre and 73 (31.9%) from the South of Italy. A high prevalence of FeVBPs was detected in male cats (n = 125, 27.8%), living in the southern part of the country (n = 73, 31.9%), younger than 18 months of age (n = 24, 22.4%) and not neutered (n = 39; 27.5%). In particular, 24 cats (2.5%) tested PCR-positive for Bartonella spp., of which 1.6% for B. henselae and 0.9% for B. clarridgeiae. A total of 111 cats scored PCR-positive for haemoplasmas (11.6%), specifically "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum" (n = 95, 9.9%), M. haemofelis (n = 14, 1.5%) and "Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis" (n = 2, 0.2%). Moreover, 39, 31 and 8 cats were positive for FeLV (4.1%), L. infantum (3.2%) and FIV (0.8%), respectively. Co-infections were registered for 19 (9.8%) cats. Conclusions: These results confirm the occurrence of haemoplasmas and FeVBPs throughout Italy. Preventive measures to protect both animal and human health should be carried out also for owned cats, even if no health status of animals has been assessed in this study.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

A molecular survey of vector-borne pathogens and haemoplasmas in owned cats across Italy

et al. 2020

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“…Compared to several other European countries, the hemoplasma prevalence (21.6%) was higher than that reported in Spain (12.0%, [15]; 10.6%, [18]), Italy (18.9% [19]; 13.2%, [21]), Germany (15.6%, [24]), Denmark (16.4%, [26]) and Serbia (17.2%, [23]), similar to that described in Greece (20.6%, [22]), but lower than that reported in Portugal (27.1%, [17];…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Molecular detection of hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) in domestic cats (Felis catus) in Romania

Imre

Văduva

Dărăbuş

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: The hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) of the genus Mycoplasma are recognized as important bacteria that parasitize red blood cells, causing hemolytic anemia in many mammalian species, including cats. No information is available concerning the presence of feline hemoplasma infections in cats in Romania. Thus, the objective of the present study was to provide data on the occurrence and molecular characterization of hemotropic mycoplasmas in client-owned cats in Romania.Methods: Blood samples from 51 unhealthy cats, originating from Timişoara Municipality, Romania, were screened for the presence of hemoplasmas using conventional polymerase chain reaction targeting the 16S rRNA gene and sequencing assays. PCR-positive samples were subsequently analyzed by phylogenetic and population genetic analysis.Results: Molecular analysis revealed 11 (21.6%) positive samples, consisting of 8 (72.7%) Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and 3 (27.3%) Mycoplasma haemofelis confirmed positives. Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis was not detected, and no co-infections were registered. No significant associations (p > 0.05) were found between the hemoplasma infection status and age, gender, breed, presence of ectoparasites, feline leukemia virus/feline immunodeficiency virus (FeLV/FIV) positivity of cats, or the sampling season. However, outdoor access was positively associated (p=0.049) with infection and could be considered a risk factor (OR=4.1) in acquiring feline hemotropic mycoplasmas. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that our sequences clustered with those selected from the GenBank database in two distinct clades. The registered population genetic indices were strongly supportive of the great variance in sequences between the recorded Mycoplasma species.Conclusions: The findings support the occurrence of feline hemoplasma infections in previously uninvestigated territories of Europe, providing useful information for small animal practitioners. To our knowledge, the present survey is the first reported molecular evidence of feline hemoplasma infections in Romania.

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“…Other studies have described several factors significantly associated with the presence of hemotropic mycoplasmas in cats including adult [14] or older [7, 18, 20 -22, 24] age, male gender [7, 14, 17, 19 -21, 24], non-pedigree breed [19], collection of blood during warm months [14,15], and FeLV/FIV positivity status [11 -15, 17, 19 -21, 24,]. Similar to our finding, the increased likelihood of cats being infected with hemotropic mycoplasmas with outdoor access has been frequently reported in other studies [7,11,14,19]. This observation can be sustained by the fact that this lifestyle increases, diversifies and perpetuates the relationships between cats, resulting in the possible transmission of mycoplasma from positive to negative animals, via direct (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this regard, providing new data on the occurrence of unreported pathogens in an endemic area represents a priority for veterinary practitioners and the scientific community. Hemoplasma infections in cats have been molecularly confirmed in several South-Western [10 -14], Southern [15 -17], South-Eastern [18,19], Central [7,20,21] and Northern [22] European Countries. However, to date no data on the presence of feline hemoplasma infections has been reported in Romania.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular confirmation of hemothropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) in domestic cats (Felis catus) in Romania

Imre

Văduva

Dărăbuş

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: The hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) of the genus Mycoplasma are recognized as important bacteria that parasitize red blood cells, causing hemolytic anemia in many mammalian species, including cats. No information is available concerning the presence of feline hemoplasma infections in cats in Romania. Thus, the objective of the present study was to provide data on the occurrence and molecular characterization of hemothropic mycoplasmas in client owned cats in Romania. Methods : Blood samples from 51 unhealthy cats, originating from Timişoara Municipality, Romania, were screened for the presence of hemoplasmas using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 16S rRNA gene and sequencing assays. Results: Molecular analysis revealed 11 (21.6%) positive samples, consisting of 8 (72.7%) Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and 3 (27.3%) Mycoplasma haemofelis confirmed positives. Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis was not detected, and no co-infections were registered. No significant associations ( p > 0 . 05) were found between the hemoplasma infection status and age, gender, breed, presence of ectoparasites, FeLV/FIV positivity of cats or the sampling season. However, outdoor access was positively associated ( p =0.049) with infection and could be considered a risk factor (OR=4.1) in acquiring feline hemotropic mycoplasmas. Conclusions : The findings support the emergence of feline hemoplasma infections in previously uninvestigated territories of Europe, providing useful information for small animal practitioners. To our knowledge, the present survey is the first reported molecular evidence of feline hemoplasma infections in Romania.

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Prevalence and risk factor analysis for feline haemoplasmas in cats from Northern Serbia, with molecular subtyping of feline immunodeficiency virus

Cited by 11 publications

References 48 publications

A molecular survey of vector-borne pathogens and haemoplasmas in owned cats across Italy

A molecular survey of vector-borne pathogens and haemoplasmas in owned cats across Italy

Molecular detection of hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) in domestic cats (Felis catus) in Romania

Molecular confirmation of hemothropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) in domestic cats (Felis catus) in Romania

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