Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Risk factors for hemoplasma infections in cats
By Bergmann, Michèle et al.·Published in BMC veterinary research·2017·Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Risk factors of different hemoplasma species infections in cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that 9.4% of cats tested in Southern Germany had infections caused by hemoplasma species, which can lead to health issues. The research showed that cats living in multi-cat households or those that go outdoors were at a higher risk for these infections. Additionally, cats with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or certain types of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) were also more likely to be infected. This suggests that these infections can spread easily among cats, especially in crowded or outdoor environments. If your cat shows signs of illness, it's important to discuss these risks with your veterinarian.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hemoplasma species (spp.) commonly cause infections in cats worldwide. However, data on risk factors for infections are limited. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hemoplasma spp. infections in cats in Southern Germany and to assess risk factors associated with infection. RESULTS: DNA was extracted from blood samples of 479 cats presented to different veterinary hospitals for various reasons. DNA of feline hemoplasmas was amplified by use of a previously reported PCR assay. Direct sequencing was used to confirm all purified amplicons and compared to hemoplasma sequences reported in GenBank. Results were evaluated in relation to the age, sex, housing conditions, feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) status of the cats. The overall hemoplasma prevalence rate was 9.4% (45/479; 95% CI: 7.08-12.36). 'Candidatus Mycoplasma (M.) haemominutum' (Mhm) DNA was amplified from 42 samples, M. haemofelis from 2, and M. haemocanis from 1 sample. There was a significantly higher risk of hemoplasma infection in cats from multi-cat households, in outdoor cats, as well as in cats with FIVinfection and in cats with abortive FeLV infection, but not in cats with progressive or regressive FeLV infection. CONCLUSIONS: Mhm infection is common in cats in Southern Germany. Higher prevalence in multi-cat households and associations with FeLV infection likely reflect the potential for direct transmission amongst cats. Outdoor access, male gender, and FIV infection are additional risk factors that might relate to aggressive interactions and exposure to vectors.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28202016/