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嗜血支原体（hemoplasmas）的家猫的感染率、相关影响因素及实验室检测结果（含合并逆转录病毒感染与未合并感染两种情形）。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。采集血液样本用于全血细胞计数、血清生化检测、免疫层析试验，以及针对猫免疫缺陷病毒（FIV）和猫白血病病毒（FeLV）的巢式PCR（nPCR）检测，同时通过聚合酶链式反应（PCR）鉴定嗜血支原体。通过问卷调查收集与嗜血支原体感染相关的影响因素数据。结果显示，共计71/200（35.5%）只猫至少感染一种嗜血支原体物种。单一感染情形中，“候选猫嗜血支原体小株（"Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum"）”的感染率为12.5%，猫嗜血支原体（Mycoplasma haemofelis）为12%，“候选猫嗜血支原体图里肯西斯株（"Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis"）”为3%。合并感染情形方面，2%的动物同时感染猫嗜血支原体与候选猫嗜血支原体小株，1.5%同时感染猫嗜血支原体与候选猫嗜血支原体图里肯西斯株，4.5%同时感染候选猫嗜血支原体小株与候选猫嗜血支原体图里肯西斯株。在同时呈逆转录病毒与嗜血支原体阳性的动物中，未观察到临床与实验室指标异常。城郊区域的家猫感染猫嗜血支原体的风险更高，而与其他家猫接触以及感染候选猫嗜血支原体图里肯西斯株，则与候选猫嗜血支原体小株感染存在相关性。本研究表明，嗜血支原体感染在巴西东北部地区的家猫中较为普遍。