Hemotropic mycoplasmas in naturally infected cats in Northeastern Brazil

Abstract This study aimed to determine the prevalence, factors associated, laboratory findings (with and without coinfection by retroviruses) among naturally infected cats by hemoplasmas in northeastern Brazil. For convenience, 200 domesticated and healthy cats were selected. Blood samples were taken to perform complete blood counts, serum biochemical, immunochromatography tests and nPCR for FIV and FeLV, and PCR for hemoplasma recognition. An interview was conducted to determine the factors associated with hemoplasmas. A total of 71/200 (35.5%) cats were positive for at least one hemoplasma species. Isolated infections were observed in 12,5% for 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum', 12% for Mycoplasma haemofelis and 3% for 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis'. Regarding copositivity, 2% of the animals were positive for M. haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum', 1.5% for M. haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis', and 4.5% for ' Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis'. No clinical and laboratory changes were observed in the animals that were concomitantly positive for retroviruses and hemoplasmas. Periurban region cats were more likely to be infected by M. haemofelis, while contact with other cats and infection by ' Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis' were associated with 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum'. This study indicates that infection by hemoplasmas is a common find in cats from northeastern Brazil.摘要 本研究旨在明确巴西东北部地区自然感染血支原体（hemoplasmas）的家猫的感染率、相关影响因素以及实验室检测结果（含合并逆转录病毒感染与未合并感染病例）。本研究采用便利抽样法选取200只健康家养猫作为研究对象。采集血液样本开展全血细胞计数、血清生化检测、免疫层析试验，以及针对猫免疫缺陷病毒（FIV）与猫白血病病毒（FeLV）的巢式聚合酶链反应（nPCR），同时采用聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测血支原体。通过访谈明确与血支原体感染相关的影响因素。共计71/200（35.5%）的受试猫至少对一种血支原体呈阳性反应。单一感染病例中，“候选血支原体（Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum”占比12.5%，“猫血支原体（Mycoplasma haemofelis”占比12%，“图里卡候选血支原体（Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis）”占比3%。合并感染方面，2%的受试动物同时呈猫血支原体与候选血支原体阳性，1.5%同时呈猫血支原体与图里卡候选血支原体阳性，4.5%同时呈候选血支原体与图里卡候选血支原体阳性。未观察到同时感染逆转录病毒与血支原体的受试动物出现临床与实验室异常改变。城郊区域的受试猫感染猫血支原体的风险更高；而与其他家猫接触以及感染图里卡候选血支原体，均与候选血支原体感染显著相关。本研究表明，血支原体感染在巴西东北部地区的家猫群体中较为常见。