Use of a PCR assay to assess the prevalence and risk factors for Mycoplasma haemofelis and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ in cats in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Blood samples from 426 healthy and sick cats in the UK were tested in a PCR assay for 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' and Mycoplasma haemofelis (basonym Haemobartonella felis). Seventy-two of the cats (16.9 per cent) were positive for 'Candidatus M. haemominutum' alone, six (1.4 per cent) were positive for M. haemofelis alone and one (0.2 per cent) was positive for both. Logistic regression analysis indicated that older male cats were significantly more likely to be infected with 'Candidatus M. haemominutum', but there was no significant association between it and any of the haematological variables measured. M. haemofelis infection was uncommon in the anaemic cats sampled, and there were too few positive cases for multivariable analysis to be performed for M. haemofelis-positive status.

Detection of Mixed Infections with “CandidatusMycoplasma Haemominutum” andMycoplasma HaemofelisUsing Real-Time TaqMan Polymerase Chain Reaction

“…Mixed infections have been documented in naturally infected cats using this cPCR assay. 6,14 However, the results of this study suggest that use of cPCR alone to determine the epidemiology of hemoplasma infections may have limitations and possibly underestimate the true prevalence of mixed infections with these organisms. The results of both real-time and cPCR always agreed on the species present in the 27 samples where only 1 species was detected using real-time PCR.…”

“…12,13 Mhf is capable of causing severe anemia in cats, whereas Mhm has yet to be associated with disease in immunocompetent cats. 4,6,14 Although uncommon, coinfections with multiple hemoplasma species have been reported. 6,14,19 Cytologic examination of blood smears has low sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of hemoplasmosis.…”

“…4,6,14 Although uncommon, coinfections with multiple hemoplasma species have been reported. 6,14,19 Cytologic examination of blood smears has low sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of hemoplasmosis. 2,4,6,9,17 The advent of PCR technology has improved our ability to detect hemoplasmas.…”

Use of Dried Blood Smears for Detection of Feline Hemoplasmas Using Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

“…M. haemominutum''. 8,9 Polymerase chain reaction assays on liquid whole blood have been shown to be much more sensitive for the diagnosis of hemoplasmosis than cytology, 10,13 and this was also true for dried whole-blood smears. As expected, the number of mixed infections detected was reduced when dried-blood smears were analyzed as opposed to liquid whole blood.…”

“…M. turicensis'' has never been cytologically identified. 9,10,12,14,15 The advent of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology has improved the ability to detect hemoplasmas. Recently, quantitative real-time PCR assays were used for specific detection and quantification of ''Ca.…”