Valinotti María Fátima Rodriguez, Patiño Lucía Soledad, Achón Rodrigo Mereles, Martinez Magaly, Rodriguez Antonio, Valinotti Rosmary Rodriguez, Ávalos Amaias
Departamento de Biología Molecular, Centro de Diagnóstico Veterinario, CEDIVEP, San Lorenzo, Central, Paraguay.
Instituto de Investigaciones en ciencias de la salud, IICS, San Lorenzo, Central, Paraguay.
Braz J Microbiol. 2025 Sep;56(3):2269-2277. doi: 10.1007/s42770-025-01714-w. Epub 2025 Jun 23.
Hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) are small, wall-less bacteria that parasitize red blood cells and can induce hemolytic anemia in felines. The three main species known to infect cats worldwide are Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (CMht) and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicencis (CMt). These species differ in their pathogenicity and prevalence, Mhf being the most pathogenic and CMht the most prevalent. The aim of this study was to determine the presence, genetic characterization, associated risk factors and geographical distribution of feline hemoplasmas in Paraguay. DNA was extracted from feline whole blood samples submitted by local veterinarians to the CEDIVEP laboratory for the detection of feline hemoplasmas; Mhf (456 samples), CMht (428 samples), and CMt (359 samples) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 76/456 samples (16%) were positive for Mhf, 77/428 (18%) were positive for CMht, and no animals were positive for CMt by PCR. Sequencing, BLAST and phylogenetic analysis were performed to confirm the identity of 16 S rRNA and was supported by the distinct separation of species-specific clades. Positive animals were found in both regions of the country (eastern and western), and the Department with the highest prevalence was Central with 70/76 (92,1%) positive for Mhf and 70/77 (90,9%) positive for CMht. The prevalence of feline hemoplasmas in domestic cats in both regions of Paraguay was determined by PCR. Male sex was a risk factor for Mhf and CMht. Age between 1 and 3 years was a risk factor for CMht and mixed breed and Siamese was a risk factor for Mhf. Feline mycoplasmosis had a greater presence in Central deparment Paraguay and more frequently affected mixed breed and common European cats.
血支原体是一种微小的、无细胞壁的细菌，寄生于红细胞内，可导致猫科动物发生溶血性贫血。目前已知在全球范围内感染猫的三种主要血支原体分别是溶血支原体（Mhf）、嗜吞噬细胞无形体（CMht）和都柏林嗜吞噬细胞无形体（CMt）。这些菌种在致病性和流行程度上存在差异，Mhf致病性最强，CMht最为常见。本研究的目的是确定巴拉圭猫血支原体的存在情况、基因特征、相关风险因素及地理分布。从当地兽医提交至CEDIVEP实验室用于检测猫血支原体的猫全血样本中提取DNA，通过聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测Mhf（456份样本）、CMht（428份样本）和CMt（359份样本）。通过PCR检测，共有76/456份样本（16%）的Mhf呈阳性，77/428份样本（18%）的CMht呈阳性，未检测到CMt呈阳性的动物。进行测序、BLAST和系统发育分析以确认16S rRNA的身份，并得到物种特异性分支明显分离的支持。在该国的东部和西部两个地区均发现了阳性动物，患病率最高的省份是中部，Mhf阳性率为70/76（92.1%），CMht阳性率为70/77（90.9%）。通过PCR确定了巴拉圭两个地区家猫中猫血支原体的患病率。雄性是Mhf和CMht的一个风险因素。1至3岁的年龄是CMht的一个风险因素，混种猫和暹罗猫是Mhf的一个风险因素。猫支原体病在巴拉圭中部省份更为常见，且更常影响混种猫和普通欧洲猫。
