Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hemoplasma infections in domestic cats across Brazil regions
By Dias, Clara Morato et al.·Published in Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria·2025·Laborató·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Molecular detection of hemoplasmas in domestic cats from different Brazilian regions.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that a large number of domestic cats in Brazil are infected with hemoplasmas, which are tiny blood parasites that can cause health issues. Out of 486 blood samples from cats in four states, 94% tested positive for these parasites, with a small number confirmed through more specific testing. This research is particularly important as it provides the first evidence of hemoplasma infections in cats from the states of Rondônia and Minas Gerais. If your cat shows signs of illness, such as lethargy or pale gums, it’s a good idea to discuss hemoplasma testing with your veterinarian.
Abstract
Domestic cats can be parasitized by Mycoplasma haemofelis, 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum', and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis'. Although the molecular occurrence of hemoplasmas in domestic cats has been investigated in the five geographical regions of Brazil, no studies have been conducted in the states of Rondônia and Minas Gerais to date. The present work aimed to investigate the molecular occurrence of hemoplasmas in cats from four Brazilian states in the Northern, Central-Western and Southeastern regions of the country. Among 486 blood samples - 80 from Rondônia (RO), 100 from Goiás (GO), 155 from Minas Gerais (MG), and 151 from São Paulo (SP) - submitted to the endogenous gapdh gene-based PCR, 94.44% (459/486) were positive, of which 1.96% (9/459; 1 from RO, 2 from GO, 5 from MG, and 1 from SP) were positive in the qPCR assay for hemoplasmas based on the 16S rRNA gene. In the phylogenetic analyses, the obtained 16S rRNA (two genotypes) and 23S rRNA (three genotypes) sequences were positioned together with 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum'. The present study showed the first molecular evidence of infection by hemoplasmas in cats from MG and RO, contributing to a better understanding of the epidemiology of feline hemoplasmosis agents in Brazil.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40608605/