Messick Joanne B
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61802, USA.
Vet Clin Pathol. 2004;33(1):2-13. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-165x.2004.tb00342.x.
The red cell parasites formerly known as Haemobartonella and Eperythrozoon spp have been reclassified as hemotrophic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) based on strong phylogenetic evidence and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences. The latter form the basis for polymerase chain reaction assays used to detect infection. Candidatus designation was given to incompletely characterized species. Like other mycoplasmas, hemoplasmas are small epicellular parasites that lack a cell wall and are susceptible to tetracyclines; their circular, double-stranded DNA encodes only those gene products essential for life. Diseases caused by infection with hemoplasmas range from overt life-threatening hemolytic anemia to subtle chronic anemia, ill-thrift, and infertility. In addition, the organisms may act as cofactors in the progression of retroviral, neoplastic, and immune-mediated diseases. Intimate contact of hemoplasma organisms with RBCs leads to cell injury through immune-mediated and other mechanisms that have not yet been defined. Despite an intense immune response and even with antibiotic treatment, infected animals probably remain chronic carriers after clinical signs have resolved.
以前被称为血巴尔通体属（Haemobartonella）和附红细胞体属（Eperythrozoon spp）的红细胞寄生虫，基于有力的系统发育证据和16S核糖体RNA基因序列，已被重新分类为血营养支原体（血支原体）。后者构成了用于检测感染的聚合酶链反应检测方法的基础。对于特征不完全明确的物种给予了暂定名（Candidatus）。与其他支原体一样，血支原体是小型细胞外寄生虫，缺乏细胞壁，对四环素敏感；它们的环状双链DNA仅编码生命所必需的那些基因产物。血支原体感染引起的疾病范围从明显危及生命的溶血性贫血到轻微的慢性贫血、生长不良和不育。此外，这些微生物可能在逆转录病毒、肿瘤和免疫介导疾病的进展中作为辅助因子。血支原体与红细胞的密切接触通过免疫介导和其他尚未明确的机制导致细胞损伤。尽管有强烈的免疫反应，甚至经过抗生素治疗，但感染动物在临床症状消退后可能仍为慢性携带者。
