All Posts Tagged With: "etiology"

Objective- To describe the current understanding of the etiology,
pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of feline hemotropic
mycoplasmosis (feline infectious anemia). Data Sources-
Manuscripts published on hemotropic mycoplasmosis in cats and
other animal species, based on a search of PubMed using the
search terms
‘hemoplasmas,”haemoplasmas,”hemotropic,”haemotropic,’ and
‘Haemobartonella,’
as well as references published within manuscripts accessed.
Human Data
Synthesis- Although hemotropic bacteria such as Bartonella
bacilliformis have been recognized in humans for over 100 years,
it has only been in recent years that some of these have been
identified as hemotropic mycoplasmas. Veterinary Data Synthesis-
Three species of hemotropic mycoplasmas have been documented in
cats worldwide, Mycoplasma haemofelis, ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma
turicensis,’ and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum.’ These
organisms were previously known as Haemobartonella felis, but are
now known to be mycoplasmas. M. haemofelis is the most pathogenic
species, and causes anemia in immunocompetent cats. Although
‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma
haemominutum’ may be more capable of causing anemia in
immunosuppressed cats, their pathogenicity remains controversial.
Assays based on polymerase chain reaction technology are the most
sensitive and specific diagnostic tests available for these
organisms, because they remain uncultivable in the laboratory
setting. Blood smears are unreliable for diagnosis of
hemoplasmosis because of their lack of sensitivity and
specificity. Conclusions- Cats presenting to emergency/critical
care specialists with hemolytic anemia should be tested using
polymerase chain reaction assays for hemotropic mycoplasmas
before instituting antimicrobial therapy. Positive test results
for M. haemofelis suggest involvement of this organism in
hemolytic anemia. Other differential diagnoses for hemolytic
anemia should be considered in cats testing positive for
‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma
haemominutum,’ because the presence of these organisms is not
always associated with anemia.