Investigation of Some Clinicopathologic Alterations in Cats Infected With
Mycoplasma haemofelis
and
Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum
in Mashhad, Iran: An Observational Cross‐Sectional Study
ABSTRACT
Background
Data on feline hemotropic mycoplasmas is limited in Iran. Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate the infection rate of cats with this pathogen in Mashhad,Iran and evaluate its assosiation with cliniopathological changes.
Materias & Methods
Blood samples from 100 cats presenting at veterinary clinics were analysed for
Mycoplasma haemofelis
(Mhf) and
Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum
(CMhm). Samples were screened for hemotropic mycoplasmas using microscopic examination and conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Samples were also subjected to haematological and biochemical analysis.
Results
Microscopic examination detected hemotropic mycoplasmas in 65% of samples, whereas PCR identified a 23% infection rate, with 65.21% (
n
= 15) positive for CMhm and 34.78% (
n
= 8) for Mhf. The presence of
Haemomycoplasma
DNA was significantly associated with age, gender, breed and roaming status (
p
< 0.05). Infected cats exhibited significant alterations (
p
< 0.05) in haematocrit (Hct), red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin (HGB), white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil counts, serum total protein (TP), globulin, phosphorus (Pi), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and the albumin/globulin ratio (AGR).
Conclusions
Our study highlights a high prevalence of feline hemoplasmosis in northeastern Iran, with CMhm as the predominant species. Key risk factors included male gender, adult, outdoor access and domestic short hair (DSH) breed. Although infected cats showed consistent clinicopathologic changes, no differences were observed between Mhf and CMhm infections.