title: Hematological changes associated with hemoplasma infection in cats in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
abstract: This study aimed to detect Mycoplasma spp. in naturally infected cats from Rio de Janeiro and to evaluate hematological abnormalities and factors associated with this infection. Out of the 197 cats sampled, 11.2% presented structures compatible with hemoplasma organisms on blood smears. In contrast, 22.8% were positive for Mycoplasma spp. by means of 16S rRNA gene real-time polymerase chain reaction, which reflects the weak concordance between techniques. The infection rates, by means of 16S rRNA gene conventional polymerase chain reaction, was 4.6%, 4.6% and 11.7% for Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis' (CMt) and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' (CMhm), respectively. Mhf and CMhm infections are more frequent in the summer (p>0.05). Presence of anemia (p < 0.02), lymphocytosis (p < 0.03), thrombocytopenia (p < 0.04) and activated monocytes (p < 0.04) was associated with Mhf infection. No hematological abnormality was associated with CMt or CMhm infection. Male cats were more prone to be infected by Mhf or CMhm (p < 0.01). Adult cats had more chance to be infected by CMhm. Three hemoplasma species occur in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro and Mhf seems to be the most pathogenic of them. Anemia is the most important hematological abnormality.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina e Cirurgia Veterinária, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Juliana Macedo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Raimundo
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina e Cirurgia Veterinária, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Andresa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina e Cirurgia Veterinária, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Camila Flávia Magalhães
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Botelho
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Hemoparasitos e Vetores, Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Maristela Peckel
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Peixoto
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Hemoparasitos e Vetores, Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marcus Sandes
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina e Cirurgia Veterinária, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carlos Henrique
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Sanidade Avícola, Departamento de Epidemiologia e Saúde Pública, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Huarrisson Azevedo
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Hemoparasitos e Vetores, Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carlos Luiz
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Massard
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marcos Rogério
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: André
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rosangela Zacarias
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina e Cirurgia Veterinária, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Cristiane Divan
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Baldani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D008297:Male; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S