Prevalence, risk factor analysis, and hematological findings of hemoplasma infection in domestic cats from Valdivia, Southern Chile.
Four distinct cat hemoplasma species are recognized worldwide. However, this is the first study to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and hematological findings of hemoplasmas in cats from Chile. Complete blood count and 16S rRNA real-time PCR for cat hemoplasma species were performed in 384 blood samples from domestic cats in Valdivia, Chile. Among the 384 samples the species-specific prevalence was as follows: 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' (7.8%), Mycoplasma haemofelis (4.4%), 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis' (1%), 'Ca. M. haemominutum'+M. haemofelis (0.78%), 'Ca. M. haemominutum'+'Ca. M. turicensis' (0.52%), 'Ca. M. haemominutum'+'Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum' (0.26%) and 'Ca. M. haemominutum'+M. haemofelis+'Ca. M. haematoparvum' (0.26%). Male sex, older age, outdoor access, and FIV status were risk factors for hemoplasmosis. Mycoplasma haemofelis-positive cats had higher mean corpuscular volume and monocyte count. Four hemoplasma species circulate in the cat population of Valdivia. 'Candidatus M. turicensis' and 'Ca. M. haematoparvum' have been reported for the first time in Chilean cats.
Institute of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Romina
R
Walker Vergara
Institute of Pharmacology and Morphophysiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Francisco
F
Morera Galleguillos
Institute of Pharmacology and Morphophysiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Marcelo
M
Gómez Jaramillo
Departament of Pathology and Veterinary Clinical, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil.
Nadia Regina
NR
Pereira Almosny
Institute of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Pía
P
Arauna Martínez
Institute of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Paulina
P
Grob Behne
Institute of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and Applied Research Program on Wildlife, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Gerardo
G
Acosta-Jamett
Institute of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile. Electronic address: ananda.muller@uach.cl.
Ananda
A
Müller
D000367:Age Factors; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013045:Species Specificity
D004269:DNA, Bacterial
Cat; Diagnosis; Hemotropic mycoplasmas; Real-time PCR