| Haemotropic Mycoplasmas (haemoplasmas) are bacteria that infect domestic cats. Approximately 25% of ill cats have haemoplasma infection. Three main feline haemoplasma species have been detected worldwide; Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), ‘Candidatus M. haemominutum’ (CMhm) and ‘Candidatus M. turicensis’ (CMt). Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are described as being associated with haemoplasma infection. The only published study in Chile was carried out in 30 cats, with prevalences by PCR of 3.3% to Mhf, and 10% to CMhm. The aim of this study was to perform molecular detection of haemoplasmas in cats from Valdivia, Chile and its association with FIV and FeLV status. Blood samples were taken from 150 cats and used for haemoplasmas DNA detection by Quantitative Real Time PCR (qPCR) and for serologic FIV and FELV testing (Anigen®) at Universidad Austral de Chile. qPCR protocol was based on detection of Mycoplasma spp. 16S rRNA gene. The analysis of the melting Temperature (Tm) allowed identifying the infecting Mycoplasma species (Mhf, CMhm, CMt). Association between each haemoplasma species infection and FIV and FeLV status was accessed by Fisher's exact test (Minitab®). From the 150 cats, 18% (27/150) of were positive form haemoplasmas, where 8.6% (13/150) corresponded to CMhm (Tm 73.5-75.0°C), 6.6% (10/150) to Mhf (Tm 75.0-76.5°C), 2% (3/150) to CMt (Tm 76.5-78.0°C) and 0.6% (1/150) to coinfection. These results agree with those found in the previous report from Chile, Europe, EUA and Brazil, where CMhm is the most prevalent species. CMhm was significantly associated with FIV-positive cats (P = 0.03), suggesting that these cats would be more likely to become infected as mentioned in other studies. There were no significant associations observed between Mhf, CMt and FIV or FeLV. Valdivia cats are infected by three different species haemoplasmas and CMt is reported for the first time in Chile. |
