title: Attempted transmission of Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and Mycoplasma haemofelis by feeding cats infected Ctenocephalides felis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf) and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (Mhm) can be transmitted by ingestion of Mycoplasma-infected Ctenocephalides felis and by-products (feces, larvae, and eggs).
  
  
  METHODS
  10 cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  3 cats were carriers of Mhf, and 1 was a carrier of Mhm. Six cats had negative results of PCR assay for Mhf and Mhm DNA. A chamber containing 100 C felis was bandaged to 2 Mhf carrier cats. Five days later, fleas and by-products were analyzed for Mycoplasma spp DNA. The remaining fleas and a sample of by-products were fed to 2 Mycoplasma-naïve cats. A chamber containing 200 C felis was bandaged to the Mhm carrier cat. Five days later, fleas and by-products were analyzed for Mycoplasma spp DNA. The remaining fleas and a sample of by-products were fed to 2 Mycoplasma-naïve cats. A chamber containing 200 C felis was bandaged to an Mhf carrier cat and Mhm-carrier cat. Three days later, fleas and by-products were analyzed for Mycoplasma spp DNA. The remaining fleas and a random sample of by products were fed to 4 Mycoplasma-naïve cats. All cats were monitored for infection for >or=7 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Uptake of Mhf and Mhm DNA into fleas and by-products was detected. None of the naïve cats became infected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggested that ingestion of Mycoplasma-infected C felis or by-products is not an important means of transmission for Mhf or Mhm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, 80523, USA.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wisnewski
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lappin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002353:Carrier State; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D002415:Cats; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000145:classification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D010063:Ovum / Q000382:microbiology; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000382:microbiology*