title: Hemoplasma prevalence and hematological abnormalities associated with infection in three different cat populations from Southern Brazil.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Análises Clínicas Veterinárias - LACVet, Departamento de Patologia Clínica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Andrea Pires dos
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Zoonoses e Epidemiologia Molecular, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Paraná - UFPR, Curitiba, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Francisco de Oliveira
authors.initials: Fde O
authors.lastname: Conrado
authors.affiliation: Hemoplasma Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Joanne Belle
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Messick
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Zoonoses e Epidemiologia Molecular, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Paraná - UFPR, Curitiba, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Alexander Welker
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Biondo
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Zoonoses e Epidemiologia Molecular, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Paraná - UFPR, Curitiba, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Simone Tostes de
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Hemoplasma Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Ana Marcia Sá
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Guimaraes
authors.affiliation: Hemoplasma Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Naíla Cannes do
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Análises Clínicas Veterinárias - LACVet, Departamento de Patologia Clínica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Viviane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pedralli
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Análises Clínicas Veterinárias - LACVet, Departamento de Patologia Clínica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Camila Serina
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lasta
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Análises Clínicas Veterinárias - LACVet, Departamento de Patologia Clínica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Félix Hilário Diaz
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: González
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence