title: Prevalence and molecular characterization of canine and feline hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) in northern Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas), the agents of infectious anemia, have been reported in dogs and cats. Little data are available on hemoplasma infections in Italy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the species of hemoplasmas and their prevalence in dogs and cats of northern Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were obtained from 117 candidate blood donor dogs, 278 free-roaming dogs and 227 free-roaming cats in 2014 and 2015. Samples were first screened for hemoplasmas with a SYBR green real time PCR. The positive samples were confirmed by a second SYBR green real time PCR and sequencing. Co-infections were detected using species-specific SYBR green real time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence in dogs was 4.5% (18/395). Among the donors only one dog was positive for Mycoplasma haemocanis (0.8%). The overall prevalence of infection in free-roaming dogs was 6.1% (17/278), which was significantly higher than in candidate donors (P < 0.05). Both M. haemocanis (13/278; 4.7%) and "Candidatus M. haematoparvum" (4/278; 1.4%) were identified. In dogs, no significant association was found between hemoplasma infection and gender, age or origin. The overall prevalence in cats was 13.2% (30/227). All three feline hemoplasma species were detected, i.e. "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum" (28; 12.3%), "Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis" (11; 4.8%) and Mycoplasma haemofelis (9; 4.0%). Half of the infected cats were co-infected (15; 6.6%) with different species of hemoplasmas. Risk factor analysis confirmed that older age, male gender and FIV positivity are predisposing factors for hemoplasma infection in cats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that candidate blood donor dogs in northern Italy show a negligible risk for hemoplasma infection, confirming the appropriateness of the candidate selection criteria and the low prevalence in the study area. Accordingly, testing for hemoplasma should be considered optional for canine blood donor screening. Hemoplasma infection was instead common in free-roaming cats, and is expected to be non-negligible in owned cats with outdoor access. Feline candidates for blood donation will therefore need to be carefully selected.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy. sravagnan@izsvenezie.it.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ravagnan
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carli
authors.affiliation: IDEXX-Laboratories-Novara Day Lab, Granozzo con Monticello, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piseddu
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Graziana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Da Rold
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Porcellato
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zanardello
authors.affiliation: Practitioner, Camponogara, Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carminato
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vascellari
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Gioia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capelli
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D001782:Blood Donors; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002415:Cats; D060085:Coinfection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000235:genetics*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012307:Risk Factors; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: Cats; Dogs; Hemoplasmas; Hemotropic mycoplasmas; Molecular characterization; Northern Italy