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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.

BackgroundHemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas), bacteria belonging to the class Mollicutes, are obligatory red blood cell pathogens of a variety of animal species. They may cause acute anemia that is life-threatening or chronic disease that is clinically silent, but may interfere with results of experimental studies when using infected animals. Since these bacteria cannot be cultivated, molecular techniques are the gold standard for diagnosing an infection, investigating its prevalence, and describing new species. Mycoplasma coccoides and M. haemomuris are the most commonly recognized hemoplasmas in the blood of wild and laboratory rodents. Neither the epidemiology nor clinical and molecular characterization of hemoplasma infection in free-ranging rodents in Brazil has been previously reported. The aims of this study were to investigate the occurrence of hemoplasmas in free-ranging rats (Rattus norvegicus) captured in the Passeio Público and Curitiba Zoo and compare hematologic parameters of infected and non-infected animals.ResultsAnti-coagulated blood samples collected from 43 free-ranging and 20 nursery rats were included in the study. Overall 63.5 % were positive using SYBR® Green quantitative PCR (qPCR) of the 16S rRNA gene to screen for hemoplasma infection (72 % among free-ranging rats; 45 % among laboratory-raised rats). Sequencing of the qPCR products showed that all but one sample had >98 % identity to M. haemomuris. Phylogenetic analysis based on a fragment of approximately 1300 bp of the 16S rRNA gene showed 99 % identity to a new hemoplasma from European rats and 98 % identity to a hemotropic mycoplasma described infecting a European harvest mouse (Micromys minutus). No statistically significant changes in hematologic parameters between infected and non-infected rats were found, confirming the low pathogenicity and/or silent characteristics of the infection.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that hemoplasmas are likely endemic in rodent species in this region. The epidemiology, especially as it relates to the mode of transmission, needs to be further investigated as well as the possibility that other animal species, including humans, might become infected.

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 34(4):349-354, abril 2014 349 RESUMO.-[Aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos e imuno-histoquímicos do linfoma canino na região de Porto Alegre.] Esse trabalho apresenta os achados epidemioló-gicos, clínicos e imuno-histoquímicos de linfomas caninos diagnosticados na região de Porto Alegre. Trinta cães foram incluídos no estudo; sendo principalmente machos (60%), sem raça definida (23%) e de meia-idade a idosos. A maioria (87%) dos cães afetados apresentou a forma anatômica multicêntrica. O imunofenótipo B foi detectado com mais frequência (62%); 37% dos cães apresentavam estadiamento clínico IV e 83% encontravam-se no subestádio "b". Linfadenopatia foi observada em 67% dos casos; outros sinais clínicos comumente detectados foram dispneia, prostração, diminuição do apetite e vômitos. Anemia foi a alteração laboratorial mais frequente (57%), seguida por leucocitose (40%), trombocitopenia (33%), linfopenia (30%), hiperglobulinemia (20%), hiperproteinemia (17%) e hipercalcemia (13%). Os resultados do presente estudo indicam que as características epidemiológicas e clínicas de cães com linfoma na região de Porto Alegre são semelhantes às observadas em todo o mundo.TERMOS DE INDEXAÇÃO: Linfoma, síndromes paraneoplásicas, sinais clínicos, imuno-histoquímica, caninos. INTRODUCTIONLymphoma is the most common canine hematopoietic neoplasm, with reported incidences of 24 to 33 cases per 100,000 dogs (Dorn et al. 1967, Teske 1994. In Brazil, lymphoma is the second most common canine neoplasm leading to death or euthanasia (Fighera et al. 2008 This paper describes the epidemiological, clinical and immunohistochemical characteristics of canine lymphomas diagnosed in the region of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Thirty dogs were enrolled in the study; most of them were male (60%), mixed-breed (23%) and middle-aged or older. The majority (87%) of affected dogs showed the multicentric form. The B-cell phenotype was most frequently detected (62%); 37% of the animals were in clinical stage IV, and 83% were classified as sub-stage "b". Lymphadenopathy was observed in 67% of the cases, and dyspnea, prostration, decreased appetite and vomiting were the most common clinical signs encountered. Anemia was a frequently encountered laboratory alteration (57%), as were leukocytosis (40%), thrombocytopenia (33%), lymphopenia (30%), hyperglobulinemia (20%) and hypercalcemia (13%). The results of this study indicate that the clinical features of dogs with lymphoma in the region of Porto Alegre are similar to those observed worldwide.

La deficiencia de piruvato quinasa (PK) es un desorden hemolítico autosómico recesivo descrito en perros y gatos. La piruvato quinasa es una de las enzimas regulatorias esenciales de la glicólisis anaeróbica, la deficiencia de esta enzima causa una destrucción prematura de los eritrocitos. El presente es un estudio de caso y relata los hallazgos clínicos y paraclínicos en un perro brasileño de la raza West Highland White Terrier (WHWT) con historia de debilidad e intolerancia al ejercicio. El paciente presentaba mucosas pálidas, anemia hemolítica bastante regenerativa y osteoclerosis. La deficiencia de PK fue confirmada a través de una prueba de ADN raza específica para la inserción 6bp en el extremo 3' del exón 10 de la secuencia del gen de la piruvato quinasa eritrocitaria (R-PK) como fue descrito. Al perro se le practicó eutanasia a los 20 meses de edad debido al deterioro de su estado clínico, el cual incluyó anemia e incompatibilidad sanguínea. En otros casos descritos en perros de la raza WHWT con esta deficiencia, existen relatos hasta de nueve años de sobrevivencia. Los defectos hereditarios deben ser objeto de diagnóstico diferencial importante en casos de anemias hemolíticas crónicas en animales jóvenes después de la exclusión diagnóstica de disturbios inmunomediados y causas infecciosas. Adicionalmente, perros de razas puras para las cuales la prueba de ADN está disponible para enfermedades hereditarias deben ser evaluados antes de la edad reproductiva para limitar la diseminación del alelo mutante y la generación futura de animales deficientes.