Prevalence, Risk Factor Analysis, and Follow-Up of Infections Caused by Three Feline Hemoplasma Species in Cats in Switzerland

Abstract

Recently, a third novel feline hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. (aka hemoplasma), "Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis," in a cat with hemolytic anemia has been described. This is the first study to investigate the prevalence, clinical manifestations, and risk factors for all three feline hemoplasma infections in a sample of 713 healthy and ill Swiss cats using newly designed quantitative real-time PCR assays. "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum" infection was detected in 7.0% and 8.7% and Mycoplasma haemofelis was detected in 2.3% and 0.2% of healthy and ill cats, respectively. "Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis" was only detected in six ill cats (1.1%); three of them were coinfected with "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum." The 16S rRNA gene sequence of 12 Swiss hemoplasma isolates revealed >98% similarity with previously published sequences. Hemoplasma infection was associated with male gender, outdoor access, and old age but not with retrovirus infection and was more frequent in certain areas of Switzerland. "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum"-infected ill cats were more frequently diagnosed with renal insufficiency and exhibited higher renal blood parameters than uninfected ill cats. No correlation between hemoplasma load and packed cell volume was found, although several hemoplasma-infected cats, some coinfected with feline immunodeficiency virus or feline leukemia virus, showed hemolytic anemia. High M. haemofelis loads (>9 ؋ 10 5 copies/ml blood) seem to lead to anemia in acutely infected cats but not in recovered long-term carriers. A repeated evaluation of 17 cats documented that the infection was acquired in one case by blood transfusion and that there were important differences among species regarding whether or not antibiotic administration led to the resolution of bacteremia.

Frequency and hematological alterations of different hemoplasma infections with retrovirusis co-infections in domestic cats from Brazil

“…The previously related association between mixed hemoplasma species infection and anemia (Willi et al 2006) wasn't observed in this study, in fact the mixed hemoplasmas infected cats had higher PCV than cats with single species of hemoplasma infection (Table 3). These results may indicate a long duration of exposure to hemoplasmas, resulting in a balance between host and parasite.…”

“…The hemoparasite search of the blood smear revealed only 5% hemoplasma positive cats, all from G1 and with characteristic clinical signs of hemoplasmosis, such as intense anemia, jaundice, apathy and anorexia (Willi et al 2006). Even though the positive samples from the blood smear were also positive on PCR, the difference in PCR results (33%) confirm the higher sensibility of PCR compared to cytology in the diagnosis of uncultivable hemoplasmas, especially in asymptomatic carrier cats, as those found in G2 (Watanabe et al 2008).…”

“…These observations are also commonly noticed in hemoplasma infected cats, suggesting the low pathogenicity of some hemoplasma infections (Willi et al 2006). As G1 animals had a higher infection rate of Mycoplasma haemofelis (Table 1), known to be more pathogenic (Criado--Fornelio et al, 2003), the reduced values observed in the erythrograms from these cats may be caused by hemoparasite infections.…”

Prevalence of Hemotropic Mycoplasmas in Healthy and Unhealthy Cats and Dogs in Spain

“…The most pathogenic feline species is regarded as M. haemofelis. 19 Concurrent diseases and infections appear to influence the pathogenicity of the other feline hemoplasma species. Clinical cases of hemoplasmosis in dogs have occasionally been reported, but cofactors such as splenectomy, immunosuppression, or concurrent infections seem to play a role in pathogenesis of disease.…”

“…1,15,22 In Europe, prevalence studies with the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the diagnosis of hemoplasmas in cats have only been performed on domestic cats in Switzerland, Germany, northern Italy, and the United Kingdom. 2,5,9,19 Moreover, prevalence studies that use PCR for the diagnosis of M. haemocanis and 'Candidatus M. haematoparvum' have only been performed on domestic dogs in France, Switzerland, Japan, northern Tanzania, and Trinidad. 1,7,12,18 Additional prevalence data for other countries are needed, and no information exists regarding hemoplasma prevalence in Spain.…”