Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hemoplasma and Bartonella infections in cats from Jaboticabal Brazil
By de Bortoli, Caroline Plácidi et al.·Published in Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria·2012·Faculdade de Ciê·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Detection of hemoplasma and Bartonella species and co-infection with retroviruses in cats subjected to a spaying/neutering program in Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 46 cats undergoing spaying and neutering in Brazil was tested for certain infections, including hemoplasmas and Bartonella species. Out of these cats, three were found to have hemoplasmas, and two had Bartonella, with some also testing positive for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). This means that even cats that seem healthy can carry these infections, which could potentially affect their health. It's important for pet owners to be aware of these risks and discuss testing and preventive measures with their veterinarian.
People also search for: cat spaying neutering infections · feline leukemia virus symptoms · what is hemoplasma in cats
Abstract
Hemotrophic mycoplasmas and Bartonella species are important pathogens that circulate between cats and invertebrate hosts, occasionally causing diseases in humans. Nevertheless, there are few reports on occurrences of these agents in cats in Brazil. The present study aimed to detect the presence of hemoplasma and Bartonella DNA by means of PCR and sequencing. FIV antigens and anti-FeLV antibodies, were studied by using a commercial kit on blood and serum samples, respectively, among 46 cats that were sampled during a spaying/neutering campaign conducted in Jaboticabal, SP. Three (6.5%) cats were positive for hemoplasmas: two (4.3%) for 'Candidatus M. haemominutum' and one (2.2%) for both M. haemofelis and 'Candidatus M. turicensis'. One of the two 'Candidatus M. haemominutum'-infected cats was also positive for FeLV antigens and showed antibodies for FIV. Two cats (4.3%) were positive for B. henselae. One of them was also positive for FeLV antigens. Eight cats (17.4%) were positive for FeLV, and just one (2.2%) showed anti-FIV antibodies. Bartonella species and hemoplasmas associated with infection due to retroviruses can circulate among apparently healthy cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23070430/