Detection of hemoplasma and Bartonella species and co-infection with retroviruses in cats subjected to a spaying/neutering program in Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
Hemotrophic mycoplasmas and Bartonella species are important pathogens that circulate between cats and invertebrate hosts, occasionally causing diseases in humans. Nevertheless, there are few reports on occurrences of these agents in cats in Brazil. The present study aimed to detect the presence of hemoplasma and Bartonella DNA by means of PCR and sequencing. FIV antigens and anti-FeLV antibodies, were studied by using a commercial kit on blood and serum samples, respectively, among 46 cats that were sampled during a spaying/neutering campaign conducted in Jaboticabal, SP. Three (6.5%) cats were positive for hemoplasmas: two (4.3%) for 'Candidatus M. haemominutum' and one (2.2%) for both M. haemofelis and 'Candidatus M. turicensis'. One of the two 'Candidatus M. haemominutum'-infected cats was also positive for FeLV antigens and showed antibodies for FIV. Two cats (4.3%) were positive for B. henselae. One of them was also positive for FeLV antigens. Eight cats (17.4%) were positive for FeLV, and just one (2.2%) showed anti-FIV antibodies. Bartonella species and hemoplasmas associated with infection due to retroviruses can circulate among apparently healthy cats.
Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil.
Caroline Plácidi
CP
de Bortoli
Marcos Rogério
MR
André
Meire Christina
MC
Seki
Aramis Augusto
AA
Pinto
Saulo de Tarso Zacarias
Sde T
Machado
Rosangela Zacarias
RZ
Machado
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001473:Bartonella / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D001938:Brazil; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D060085:Coinfection; D005260:Female; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000276:immunology; D005256:Leukemia Virus, Feline / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D013245:Sterilization, Reproductive
D000914:Antibodies, Viral