Imre Mirela, Văduva Cristina, Dărăbuș Gheorghe, Morariu Sorin, Herman Viorel, Plutzer Judit, Suici Tijana, Lait Philippa J P, Imre Kálmán
Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Banat's University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine "King Michael I of Romania", Timişoara, 300645, Romania.
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Banat's University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Timişoara, Calea Aradului no. 119, 300645, Timişoara, Romania.
BMC Vet Res. 2020 Oct 22;16(1):399. doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02626-7.
The hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) of the genus Mycoplasma are recognized as important bacteria that parasitize red blood cells, causing hemolytic anemia in many mammalian species, including cats. No information is available concerning the presence of feline hemoplasma infections in cats in Romania. Thus, the objective of the present study was to provide data on the occurrence and molecular characterization of hemotropic mycoplasmas in client-owned cats in Romania.
Blood samples from 51 unhealthy cats, originating from Timişoara Municipality, Romania, were screened for the presence of hemoplasmas using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 16S rRNA gene and sequencing assays. PCR-positive samples were subsequently analyzed by phylogenetic and population genetic analysis.
Molecular analysis revealed 11 (21.6%) positive samples, consisting of 8 (72.7%) Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and 3 (27.3%) Mycoplasma haemofelis confirmed positives. Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis was not detected, and no co-infections were registered. No significant associations (p > 0.05) were found between the hemoplasma infection status and age, gender, breed, presence of ectoparasites, feline leukemia virus/feline immunodeficiency virus positivity of cats, or the sampling season. However, outdoor access was positively associated (p = 0.049) with infection and could be considered a risk factor (OR = 4.1) in acquiring feline hemotropic mycoplasmas. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that our sequences clustered with those selected from the GenBank database in two distinct clades. The registered population genetic indices were strongly supportive of the great variance in sequences between the recorded Mycoplasma species.
The findings support the occurrence of feline hemoplasma infections in previously uninvestigated territories of Europe, providing useful information for small animal practitioners. To our knowledge, the present survey is the first reported molecular evidence of feline hemoplasma infections in Romania.
支原体属的嗜血性支原体（血支原体）被认为是寄生于红细胞的重要细菌，可在包括猫在内的许多哺乳动物物种中引起溶血性贫血。罗马尼亚尚无关于猫感染猫血支原体的信息。因此，本研究的目的是提供罗马尼亚宠物猫中嗜血性支原体的发生情况和分子特征数据。
采集自罗马尼亚蒂米什瓦拉市的51只不健康猫的血样，采用针对16S rRNA基因的常规聚合酶链反应（PCR）和测序分析来筛查血支原体的存在。随后对PCR阳性样本进行系统发育和群体遗传学分析。
分子分析显示11份（21.6%）阳性样本，其中8份（72.7%）为暂定血支原体溶血亚种确诊阳性，3份（27.3%）为溶血支原体确诊阳性。未检测到暂定图里西血支原体，也未记录到混合感染。血支原体感染状况与猫的年龄、性别、品种、体外寄生虫的存在、猫白血病病毒/猫免疫缺陷病毒阳性情况或采样季节之间未发现显著关联（p>0.05）。然而，户外活动与感染呈正相关（p = 0.049），可被视为感染猫嗜血性支原体的一个风险因素（OR = 4.1）。系统发育分析表明，我们的序列与从GenBank数据库中选择的序列聚集在两个不同的进化枝中。所记录的群体遗传指标有力地支持了所记录的支原体物种之间序列的巨大差异。
这些发现支持了在欧洲此前未调查地区存在猫血支原体感染，为小动物从业者提供了有用信息。据我们所知，本次调查是罗马尼亚首次报道的猫血支原体感染的分子证据。
