Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Vector-borne diseases linked to blood problems in cats in midwestern
By Stephani Félix Carvalho et al.·Published in Microorganisms·2024·Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias (LADOPAR), Setor de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás—UFG, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, Brazil, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Feline Vector-Borne Diseases and Their Possible Association with Hematological Abnormalities in Cats from Midwestern Brazil
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats in Brazil showed signs of blood abnormalities, specifically low platelet counts and high white blood cell counts. Testing revealed that about 21% of the cats had an infection with a type of bacteria called Mycoplasma, which can cause various health issues. Two of the cats also had a co-infection with another parasite called Cytauxzoon. The researchers suggest that Mycoplasma infections should be considered when diagnosing cats with these blood issues, even if they seem healthy otherwise. More studies are needed to understand the full impact of these infections on cat health.
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Abstract
Among the parasitic and infectious diseases affecting cats, those caused by vector-borne pathogens deserve attention due to their ability to cause nonspecific clinical signs and clinicopathological abnormalities. We studied the presence of <i>Cytauxzoon</i> spp., <i>Ehrlichia</i> spp., and <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. in blood samples from 135 cats referred to the veterinary teaching hospital of the Federal University of Goiás in midwestern Brazil. We also investigated co-infections with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) as well as the correlation between <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. infection and cat variables, including age, sex, breed, and complete blood count abnormalities. Upon PCR testing, 20.7% (28/135) of samples were positive for <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp., 1.5% (2/135) for <i>Cytauxzoon</i> spp., and none for <i>Ehrlichia</i> spp. Co-infections with <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. and <i>Cytauxzoon</i> spp. were detected in the two cats with the latter infection. <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. infection was statistically associated with the simultaneous presence of thrombocytopenia and leukocytosis. This study confirms a high frequence of <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. infection, with both <i>M. haemofelis</i> and ‘<i>Candidatus</i> Mycoplasma haemominutum’ circulating in this cat population. The clinical significance of <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. infection in cats should be further explored and this infection should eventually be included in the differential diagnosis of thrombocytopenia and leukocytosis in otherwise apparently healthy cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12112171