title: Occurrence of 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis' infection in domestic cats in Japan.
abstract: We have examined the presence of hemoplasmas, hemotropic mycoplasmas, among domestic cats (Felis catus) in Japan by using a species specific PCR, and found 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis', a recently recognized hemoplasma species. A total of 60 feline blood samples collected in 2004 and 2005 were subjected to PCR amplification for the detection of Mycoplasma haemofelis, 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis'. Six blood samples collected from domestic cats were found infected with the 'Candidatus M. turicensis'. All of them are also infected with other species of hemoplasmas, M. haemofelis and/or 'Candidatus M. haemominutum'. This is the first to demonstrate 'Candidatus M. turicensis' infections among cat population in Japan.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Japan.
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujihara
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Takatsugu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Ryô
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harasawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000145:classification*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*