Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine hemoplasma infections in Mediterranean dogs and risk factors
By Novacco, Marilisa et al.·Published in Veterinary microbiology·2010·Vetsuisse Faculty·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Prevalence and geographical distribution of canine hemotropic mycoplasma infections in Mediterranean countries and analysis of risk factors for infection.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that about 10% of dogs tested in Mediterranean countries like Italy, Spain, and Portugal had infections from two types of blood-borne bacteria called hemoplasmas. These infections were more common in Portugal, especially among younger dogs, those living in kennels, and crossbred dogs. While the infections were detected, they didn't seem to cause serious health issues, and there was no link to anemia (low red blood cell count). If your dog shows signs of illness or you have concerns about ticks, it's a good idea to talk to your vet about testing for these infections.
People also search for: dog blood infection symptoms · tick-borne diseases in dogs · hemoplasma infection treatment
Abstract
Two hemoplasma species are known in dogs: Mycoplasma haemocanis (Mhc) and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum' (CMhp). Although their transmission routes are poorly understood, Rhipicephalus sanguineus has been suggested as a potential tick vector. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence, risk factors, and clinical importance of canine hemoplasmas in countries with a Mediterranean climate where R. sanguineus is highly prevalent using TaqMan real-time PCR, and to molecularly characterize the identified isolates. DNA (canine glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) was successfully amplified from all samples collected from 850 dogs in Italy, Spain, and Portugal, and 82 (9.6%) were PCR-positive for canine hemoplasmas (43 Mhc, 34 CMhp and 5 co-infected). The hemoplasma sample prevalence was significantly higher in Portugal (40%) than in Italy (9.5%) and Spain (2.5%). Risk factors for infection included living in kennels, young age, crossbreeding, and mange infection. No association was found with anemia. Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA and RNase P genes revealed >99% identity to other European isolates. In conclusion, canine hemoplasma infections were readily encountered in Mediterranean countries. The climate and living conditions seemed to influence canine hemoplasma prevalence. The clinical importance of canine hemoplasma infections appeared to be low, but the infection stage of the presented dogs was unknown.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19931320/