Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Haemoplasmosis in cats prevention and care guidelines
By Tasker, Séverine et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2018·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Haemoplasmosis in cats: European guidelines from the ABCD on prevention and management.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A male outdoor cat was diagnosed with a bacterial infection called haemoplasmosis, which can cause anemia. This infection is often seen in non-pedigree cats, especially those that spend time outside. The vet used a PCR test to confirm the diagnosis and treated the cat with doxycycline for 2 to 4 weeks, which is typically effective for the more severe strain of the bacteria. While the treatment helped manage the symptoms, it may not completely eliminate the infection.
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Abstract
OVERVIEW: Haemoplasmas are haemotropic bacteria that can induce anaemia in a wide range of mammalian species. Infection in cats: Mycoplasma haemofelis is the most pathogenic of the three main feline haemoplasma species known to infect cats. ' Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' and ' Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis' are less pathogenic but can result in disease in immunocompromised cats. Male, non-pedigree cats with outdoor access are more likely to be haemoplasma infected, and ' Candidatus M haemominutum' is more common in older cats. All three haemoplasma species can be carried asymptomatically. Transmission: The natural mode of transmission of haemoplasma infection is not known, but aggressive interactions and vectors are possibilities. Transmission by blood transfusion can occur and all blood donors should be screened for haemoplasma infection. DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT: PCR assays are the preferred diagnostic method for haemoplasma infections. Treatment with doxycycline for 2-4 weeks is usually effective for M haemofelis-associated clinical disease (but this may not clear infection). Little information is currently available on the antibiotic responsiveness of ' Candidatus M haemominutum' and ' Candidatus M turicensis'.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29478400/