Frequency and hematological alterations of different hemoplasma infections with retrovirusis co-infections in domestic cats from Brazil 1

Firmino F.P., Aquino L.C., Marçola T.G., Bittencourt M.V., McManus C.M. & Paludo G.R. 2016. Frequency and hematological alterations of different hemoplasma infections with retrovirusis co-infections in domestic cats from Brazil. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 36(8):731-736. Laboratório de Patologia Clínica, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universiário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, DF 70910-900, Brazil. E-mail: giane@unb.br Mycoplasma haemofelis is the agent of feline infectious anemia, although Candidatus M. haemominutum can also be associated. This study evaluated the frequency and hematological alterations caused by hemoplasma infections and co-infections with FeLV, FIV and Toxoplasma gondii in domestic cats from two distinct areas (urban G1 and periurban G2) of Brasília, Brazil. One hundred cats were evaluated, 51 from the G1 area and 49 from G2. No cats were positive for T. gondii. Hemoplasma infection was diagnosed in 33% cats from G1 and 32.6% from G2 (p>0.05). In G1 35.3% of the positive cats were infected with Mycoplasma haemofelis, 47.06% with Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and 17.64% with mixed hemoplasma species infection; 12.5% of the cats identified as PCR positive in G2 were infected with Mycoplasma haemofelis, 18.75% with Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and 68.75% with mixed infection. Cats from the periurban area had higher mixed hemoplasmas infection rates than those from urban area, and most of them were asymptomatic carriers. Cytology results were positive in only 5% of cats from G1. Mycoplasma haemofelis infected cats had normocytic normochromic anemia while the cats infected with Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum or with both species did not. 37.2% of G1 cats were co-infected with Mycoplasma haemofelis and FeLV, and presented lower PCV and hemoglobin concentration than those infected only with Mycoplasma haemofelis. The co-infection with Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and FeLV produced lower WBC, segmented cells and platelets, and increased total protein concentration.