Acta Vet. Brno 2021, 90: 211-219

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb202190020211

Infections of cats with blood mycoplasmas in various contexts

Dana Lobová1, Jarmila Konvalinová2, Iveta Bedáňová2, Zita Filipejová3, Dobromila Molinková1

1University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Brno, Czech Republic
2University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, Department of Animal Protection, Welfare and Ethology, Brno, Czech Republic
3University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal Clinic, Brno, Czech Republic

Received April 1, 2020
Accepted May 26, 2021

Haemotropic microorganisms are the most common bacteria that infect erythrocytes and are associated with anaemia of varying severity. The aim of this study was to focus on the occurrence of Mycoplasma haemofelis, Mycoplasma haemominutum, and Mycoplasma turicensis in cats. We followed infected individuals’ breeding conditions, age, sex, basic haematological indices, and co-infection with one of the feline retroviruses. A total of 73 cats were investigated. Haemoplasmas were detected by PCR and verified by sequencing. Haematology examination was performed focusing on the number of erythrocytes, haemoglobin concentrations and haematocrit. A subset of 40 cat blood samples was examined by a rapid immunochromatography test to detect retroviruses. The following was found in our study group: M. haemofelis in 12.3% of individuals, M. haemominutum in 35.6% of individuals and M. turicensis in 17.8% of individuals. A highly significant difference was found between positive evidence of blood mycoplasmas in cats living only at home (15%) and in cats with access to the outside (69.8%). There was also a highly significant difference in the incidence of mycoplasma in cats over 3 years of age compared to 1–3 years of age and up to 1 year of age. There was no difference in the frequency of infections between the sexes. Blood mycoplasma infection in our group was not accompanied by fundamental changes in the haematological indices and was only reflected by a decrease in haemoglobin values in three cases. In a subset of cats that were also examined for the presence of retroviral infection, mycoplasma infection in blood was confirmed in all five positive cases.

Funding

This work was supported by the grant IGA VFU Brno 108/2018/FVL.

References

22 live references