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

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.家猫中已确认存在三种血支原体（hemoplasma）物种：溶血支原体（Mycoplasma haemofelis）、候选溶血支原体（Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum）以及候选图里科支原体（Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis）。本研究针对巴西南部地区3个不同群体（献血猫、住院猫及收容所猫）共计369只家猫，报告了血支原体感染的流行率与血液学异常情况。采血时同步完成全血细胞计数，提取基因组DNA后，采用常规聚合酶链式反应（PCR）针对各血支原体物种开展检测。共计79份样本（占比21.40%）对至少一种血支原体呈阳性反应。检出率最高的血支原体为候选溶血支原体，阳性猫共50只（占比13.55%）；其次为候选图里科支原体，阳性10只（占比2.71%）；溶血支原体阳性8只（占比2.16%）。同时感染溶血支原体与候选溶血支原体的样本共4份（占比1.08%）；同时感染候选溶血支原体与候选图里科支原体的样本共5份（占比1.35%）。另有3只猫（占比0.81%）同时感染了全部三种血支原体。感染情况与受试猫所属群体无显著关联。贫血与溶血支原体及候选溶血支原体感染存在显著关联，但与候选图里科支原体感染无关。公猫及具备户外活动权限的猫感染风险更高。尽管普遍认为候选溶血支原体仅会引发极轻微或不会引发血液学改变，但本研究中受其感染的猫更易出现贫血症状。