Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Molecular detection and prevalence of feline hemotropic mycoplasmas in Istanbul, Turkey

  • Published:
Acta Parasitologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate Mycoplasma spp. species in blood samples of the domestic cats from the province of Istanbul, Turkey. Three hundred eighty four blood samples of client-owned cats were used for the identification of Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (CMhm) and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (CMt) by Poly-merase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) assays. Out of 384 blood samples, 74 (19.3%) were positive for one of Mycoplasma species. The total prevalence of Mhf, CMhm and CMt infections was 9.9%, 17.7% and 0.8% respectively. The most common species was CMhm. Co-infections were mostly with Mhf/CMhm and the frequency was 8.1%. Two cats were infected with three species. The current study was the first molecular prevalence study of hemotropic mycoplasmas in Istanbul, reporting the presence of CMt for the first time in Turkey. Prevalence of feline my-coplasma was notably high in Istanbul and PCR assay could be preferred rather than the microscopic examination for the diagnosis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akkan H.A., Karaca M., Tutuncu M., Ozdal N., Yuksek N., Agaoglu Z., Deger S. 2005. Haemobartonellosis in Van cats. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 29, 709–712. http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/veterinary/issues/vet-05-29-3/vet-29-3-19-0307-8.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • Aslan O., Ica A., Cam Y., Kibar M. 2010. Kayseri’ de bir kedide Haemobartonellozis olgusu. Erciyes Universitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 7, 131–135. http://ercivet.erciyes.edu.tr/arsiv/2010-2/kedide-haemobartonellozis.pdf. (in Turkish)

    Google Scholar 

  • Barker E., Tasker S. 2013. Haemoplasmas: lessons learnt from cats. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 61, 184–192. DOI: 10. 1080/00480169.2013.771760

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barrs V.R., Beatty J.A., Wilson B.J., Evans N., Gowan R., Baral R.M., Lingard A.E., Perkovic G., Hawley J.R., Lappin M.R. 2010. Prevalence of Bartonella species, Rickettsia felis, he-moplasmas and the Ehrlichia group in the blood of cats and fleas in eastern Australia. Australian Veterinary Journal, 88, 160–165. DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2010.00569.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bauer N., Balzer H.J., Thure S., Moritz A. 2008. Prevalence of feline hemotropic mycoplasmas in convenience samples of cats in Germany. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 10, 252–258. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2007.12.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett A.D., Gunn-Moore D.A., Brewer M., Lappin M.R. 2011. Prevalence of Bartonella species, haemoplasmas and Toxoplasma gondii in cats in Scotland. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 13, 553–557. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2011.03.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berent L., Messick J., Cooper S. 1998. Detection of Haemobartonella felis in cats with experimentally induced acute and chronic infections, using a polymerase chain reaction assay. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 59, 1215–1220. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9781450

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Criado-Fornelio A., Martinez-Marcos A., Buling-Sarana A., Barba-Carretero J.C. 2003. Presence of Mycoplasma haemofelis, Mycoplasma haemominutum and piroplasmids in cats from southern Europe: a molecular study. Veterinary Microbiology, 93, 307–317. DOI: 10.1016/S0378-1135(03)00044-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duarte A., Marques V., Correia J.H., Neto I., Bráz B.S., Rodrigues C., Martins T., Rosado R., Ferreira J.P., Santos-Reis M., Tavares L. 2015. Molecular detection of haemotropic Mycoplasma species in urban and rural cats from Portugal. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 17, 516–22. DOI: 10.1177/1098612X14550172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eberhardt J.M., Neal K., Shackelford T., Lappin M.R. 2006. Prevalence of selected infectious disease agents in cats from Arizona. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 8, 164–168. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2005.12.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foley J.E., Pedersen N.C. 2001. ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemo-minutum’, a low-virulence epierythrocytic parasite of cats. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 51, 815–817. DOI: 10.1099/00207713-51-3-815

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Foley J.E., Harrus S., Poland A., Chomel B., Pedersen N.C. 1998. Molecular, clinical and pathologic comparison of two distinct strains of Haemobartonella felis in domestic cats. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 59, 1581–1588. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9858411

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fujihara M., Watanabe M., Yamada T., Harasawa R.J. 2007. Occurrence of ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ infection in domestic cats in Japan. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 69, 1061–1063. DOI: 10.1292/jvms.69.1061

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gentilini F., Novacco M., Turba M.E., Willi B., Bacci M.L., Hofmann-Lehmann R. 2009. Use of combined conventional and real-time PCR to determine the epidemiology of feline haemotropic mycoplasma infections in northern Italy. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 11, 277–285. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2008.06.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghazisaeedi F., Atyabi N., Zahrai Salehi T., Gentilini F., Ashrafi Tamai I., Akbarein H., Tasker S. 2014. A molecular study of hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) in cats in Iran. Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 43, 381–386. DOI: 10.1111/vcp.12166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inokuma H., Taroura S., Okuda M., Hisasue M., Itamoto K., Une S., Nakaichi M., Taura Y. 2004. Molecular survey of Mycoplasma haemofelis and ‘Candidatus mycoplasma haemominutum’ infection in cats in Yamaguchi and surrounding areas. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 66, 1017–1020. DOI:10. 1292/jvms.66.1017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins K.S., Dittmer K.E., Marshall J.C., Tasker S. 2013. Prevalence and risk factor analysis of feline haemoplasma infection in New Zealand domestic cats using a real-time PCR assay. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 15, 1063–1069. DOI: 10.1177/1098612X13488384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen W.A., Lappin M.R., Kamkar S., Reagan W.J. 2001. Use of a polymerase chain reaction assay to detect and differentiate two strains of Haemobartonella felis in naturally infected cats. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 62, 604–608. DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2001.62.604

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Juvet F., Lappin M.R., Brennan S., Mooney C.T. 2010. Prevalence of selected infectious agents in cats in Ireland. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 12, 476–482. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms. 2010.02.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamrani A., Parreira V.R., Greenwood J., Prescott J.F. 2008. The prevalence of Bartonella, hemoplasma and Rickettsia felis infections in domestic cats and in cat fleas in Ontario. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research, 72, 411–419. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2568045/pdf/cjvr-05-411.pdf.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Laberke S., Just F., Pfister K., Hartmann K. 2010. Prevalence of feline hemoplasma infection in cats in Southern Bavaria, Germany, and infection risk factor analysis. Berliner und Münchener Tierärztliche Wochenschrift, 123, 42–48. DOI: 10.2376/0005-9366-123-42. (in German)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lobetti R.G., Tasker S. 2004. Diagnosis of feline haemoplasma infection using a real-time PCR assay. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, 75, 94–99. DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v75i2.460

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luria B.J., Levy J.K., Lappin M.R., Breitschwerdt E.B., Legendre A.M., Hernandez J.A., Gorman S.P., Lee I.T. 2004. Prevalence of infectious diseases in feral cats in Northern Florida. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 6, 287–296. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2003.11.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maher I.E., Tasker S., Polizopoulou Z., Dasopoulou A., Egan K., Helps C.R., Papasouliotis K. 2010. Polymerase chain reaction survey of feline haemoplasma infections in Greece. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 12, 601–605. DOI:10.1016/j. jfms.2010.02.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez-Diaz V., Silvestre-Ferreira A.C., Vilhena H., Pastor J., Francino O., Altet L. 2013. Prevalence and co-infection of haemotropic mycoplasmas in Portuguese cats by real time polymerase chain reaction. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 15, 879–885. DOI: 10.1177/1098612X13480985

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Messick J.B., Berent L.M., Cooper S.K. 1998. Development and evaluation of a PCR-based assay for detection of Haemobartonella felis in cats and differentiation of H. felis from related bacteria by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 36, 462–466. http://jcm.asm.org/content/36/2/462.full.pdf+html

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Miceli N.G., Gavioli F.A., Goncalves L.R., André M.R., Sousa V.R., Sousa K.C., Machado R.Z. 2013. Molecular detection of feline arthropod-borne pathogens in cats in Cuiabá, state of Mato Grosso, central-western region of Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, 22, 385–390. DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612013000300011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgenthal D., Hamel D., Arndt G., Silaghi C., Pfister K., Kempf V.A.J., Kohn B. 2012. Prävalenz von hämotrophen Mycoplasma spp., Bartonella spp. und Anaplasma phagocytophilum bei Katzen im Raum Berlin/Brandenburg. Berliner und Münchener Tierärztliche Wochenschrift, 125, 418–427. DOI: 10.2376/0005-9366-125-418. (in German)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neimark H., Johansson K.E., Rikihisa Y., Tully J.G. 2002. Revision of haemotrophic Mycoplasma species names. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 52, 683. DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.02283-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters I.R., Helps C.R., Willi B., Hofmann-Lehmann R., Tasker S. 2008. The prevalence of three species of feline haemoplasmas in samples submitted to a diagnostics service as determined by three novel real-time duplex PCR assays. Veterinary Microbiology, 126, 142–150. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2007. 06.017

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roura X., Peters I.R., Altet L., Tabar M.D., Barker E.N., Planellas M., Helps C.R., Francino O., Shaw S.E., Tasker S. 2010. Prevalence of hemotropic mycoplasmas in healthy and unhealthy cats and dogs in Spain. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 22, 270–274. DOI: 10.1177/1040638 71002200219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santis A.C., Herrera H.M., Sousa K.C., Gonçalves L.R., Denardi N.C., Domingos I.H., Campos J.B., Machado R.Z., André M.R. 2014. Molecular detection of hemotrophic mycoplasmas among domiciled and free-roaming cats in Campo Grande, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, 23, 231–236. DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612014039

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santos A.P., Messick J.B., Biondo A.W. 2009. Design, optimization, and application of a conventional PCR assay with an internal control for detection of ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ 16S rDNA in domestic cats from Brazil. Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 38, 443–452. DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-165X.2009. 00158.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santos A.P., Conrado Fde O., Messick J.B., Biondo A.W., Oliveira S.T., Guimaraes A.M., Nascimento N.C., Pedralli V., Lasta C.S., González F.H. 2014. Hemoplasma prevalence and hematological abnormalities associated with infection in three different cat populations from Southern Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, 23, 428–434. DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612014079

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silaghi C., Knaus M., Rapti D., Kusi I., Shukullari E., Hamel D., Pfister K., Rehbein S. 2014. Survey of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum, haemotropic mycoplasmas and other arthropod-borne pathogens in cats from Albania. Parasites and Vectors, 7, 62. DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spada E., Proverbio D., Galluzzo P., Della Pepa A., Bagnagatti De Giorgi G., Perego R., Ferro E. 2014. Prevalence of haemoplasma infections in stray cats in northern Italy. International Scholarly Research Notices Microbiology, 298352. DOI: 10.1155/2014/298352

    Google Scholar 

  • Sykes J.E. 2010. Feline hemotropic mycoplasmas. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 40, 1157–1170. DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2010.07.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tanahara M., Miyamoto S., Nishio T., Yoshii Y., Sakuma M., Sakata Y., Nishigaki K., Tsujimoto H., Setoguchi A., Endo Y. 2010. An epidemiological survey of feline hemoplasma infection in Japan. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 72, 1575–1581. DOI: 10.1292/jvms.10-0143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tasker S. 2010. Haemotropic mycoplasmas: what’s their real significance in cats?. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 12, 369–381. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2010.03.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tasker S., Lappin M.R. 2002. Haemobartonella felis: recent developments in diagnosis and treatment. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 4, 3–11. DOI: 10.1053/jfms.2001.0155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tasker S., Braddock J.A., Baral R., Helps C.R., Day M.J., Gruffydd-Jones T.J., Malik R. 2004. Diagnosis of Feline Haemoplasma Infection in Australian cats using a real-time PCR assay. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 6, 345–354. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2003.12.003

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tasker S., Binns S.H., Day M.J., Gruffydd-Jones T.J., Harbour D.A., Helps C.R., Jensen W.A., Oliver C.S., Lappin M.R. 2003. Use of a PCR assay to assess prevalence and risk factors for My-coplasma haemofelis and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemomin-utum’ in cats in the United Kingdom. Veterinary Record, 152, 193–198. DOI: 10.1136/vr.152.7.193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tuzer E., Goksu K., Bilal T., Yeşildere T. 1993. A case of Haemo-bartonellosis in a cat in Istanbul. Journal of Protozoology Research, 3, 69–70. http://ir.obihiro.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/10322/188/1/Prot.Vol.3-2-6.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • Ural K., Kurtdede A. 2008a. “Feline haemoplasmosis in Ankara, Turkey: pathological, haematological and biochemical findings, diagnosis and mycoplasma identification by PCR and enrofloxacin treatment efficiency. Revue De Medecine Vet-erinaire, 159, 376–384. http://www.revmedvet.com/2008/RMV159_376_384.pdf

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • al K., Kurtdede A., Ulutas B. 2009. Prevalence of haemoplasma infection in pet cats from 4 different provinces in Turkey. Revue De Medecine Veterinaire, 160, 226–230. http://www.revmedvet.com/2009/RMV160_226_230.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • al K., Suer C., Vatansever Z., Kar S., Eker K., Coingoi C.C. 2008b. “Candidatus Mycoplasma Haemominutum” infection in a cat in Antalya. F0irat University Journal of Health Sciences Veterinary, 22, 27–30.http://veteriner.fusabil.org/pdf/pdf_FUS-ABIL_554.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • estfall D.S., Jensen W.A., Reagan W.J., Radecki S.V., Lappin M.R. 2001. Inoculation of two genotypes of Hemobartonella felis (California and Ohio variants) to induce infection in cats and the response to treatment with azithromycin. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 62, 687–691. DOI: 10.2460/ajvr. 2001.62.687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Illi B., Boretti F.S., Cattori V., Tasker S., Meli M.L., Reusch C., Lutz H., Hofmann-Lehmann R. 2005. Identification, molecular characterization and experimental transmission of a new hemoplasma isolate from a cat with hemolytic anemia in Switzerland. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 43, 2581–2585. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.43.6.2581-2585.2005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willi B., Tasker S., Boretti F.S., Doherr M.D., Cattori V., Meli M.L., Reusch C.E., Lutz H., Hofmann-Lehmann R. 2006a. Phylo-genetic and risk factor analysis for ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ in UK, Australian and South African pet cats. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 44, 4430–4435. DOI: 10.1128/ JCM.00987-06

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Willi B., Boretti F.S., Baumgartner C., Tasker S., Wenger B., Cattori V., Meli M.L., Reusch C., Lutz H., Hofmann-Lehmann R. 2006b. Prevalence, risk factor analysis and follow up of infections with the three feline haemoplasma species in cats in Switzerland. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 44, 961–969. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.44.3.961-969.2006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willi B., Museux K., Novacco M., Schraner E.M., Wild P., Groebel K., Ziegler U., Wolf-Jäckel G.A., Kessler Y., Geret C., Tasker S., Lutz H., Hofmann-Lehmann R. 2011. First morphological characterization of ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ using electron microscopy. Veterinary Microbiology, 149, 367–373. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2010.11.020

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University, 34320, Istanbul, Turkey

    Handan Cetinkaya & Cem Vurusaner

  2. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University, 34320, Istanbul, Turkey

    Damla Haktanir & Seckin Arun

Authors
  1. Handan Cetinkaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Damla Haktanir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Seckin Arun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Cem Vurusaner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Handan Cetinkaya.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cetinkaya, H., Haktanir, D., Arun, S. et al. Molecular detection and prevalence of feline hemotropic mycoplasmas in Istanbul, Turkey. Acta Parasit. 61, 165–171 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2016-0022

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2016-0022

Key words

Search

Navigation