Publications

4772

Blood samples from 426 healthy and sick cats in the UK were tested in a PCR assay for ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ and Mycoplasma haemofelis (basonym Haemobartonella felis ). Seventy‐two of the cats (16·9 per cent) were positive for ‘Candidatus M haemominutum’ alone, six (1·4 per cent) were positive for M haemofelis alone and one (0·2 per cent) was positive for both. Logistic regression analysis indicated that older male cats were significantly more likely to be infected with ‘Candidatus M haemominutum’, but there was no significant association between it and any of the haematological variables measured. M haemofelis infection was uncommon in the anaemic cats sampled, and there were too few positive cases for multivariable analysis to be performed for M haemofelis ‐positive status.

Summary The leafhoppers (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) are the most species‐rich group of invertebrates in which intracellular symbionts are usual. Here we present the first molecular characterization of bacteriome‐associates in the leafhoppers, with focus on the subfamily Cicadellinae (sharpshooters). Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rDNA sequences from intracellular symbionts residing in the bacteriomes of five host species indicate that these symbionts form a well‐defined clade within the γ‐3 Proteobacteria, consistent with an ancient colonization and strict vertical transmission. More extensive gene sequence information is reported for the symbiont of Homalodisca coagulata (Say). The genome size, as determined by pulsed field gel electrophoresis, is approximately 680 kb. This finding, when combined with published results for symbionts of aphids, ants, psyllids and tsetse flies, adds to an emerging pattern which suggests that bacteriome associates often descend from ancient infections by γ Proteobacteria, and that these lineages have undergone pronounced genome reduction. A new genus and species name, ‘Candidatus Baumannia cicadellinicola ’ (sp. nov. ) is proposed for this newly characterized clade of symbiotic bacteria.

ABSTRACTA real-time PCR assay using Taqman probes was developed to detect and quantifyMycoplasma haemofelisand “CandidatusMycoplasma haemominutum” in feline blood samples. The assay was rapid and sensitive and was successfully used to monitor the in vivo kinetics of cats experimentally infected with each species.