Hemotrophic Mycoplsmosis

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

Rickettsial bacteria 
--Haemobartonella felis 
Parasite attaches to surface of RBC
Causes immune destruction, anemia 
Cats 
--Mycoplasmia haemofelis *large form*
--M. Haemominutum *small form*
--Mycoplasma turisensis - found on PCR only 
Differences based on morphology, pathology, 16s RNA sequence homologous

Question 2

Epidemiology

Answer 2

WW distribution
Most common in adult male cats
Prevalence of hemotrophic mycoplasma infections in anemic cats in the US = 25%
Considerable difference in severity of IFX btw M haemofelis and M haemominutum
–if have a cat with regenerative anemia, need to test for Mycoplasma because have 1 in 4 chance of finding it

Question 3

Clinical Dz: M haemofelis

Answer 3

Hemolytic anemia
Fever –> intermittent during acute phase
A, D, splenomegaly
Chronic carriers, perhaps for life
Icterus = rare
If coinfected with FeLV/FIV
–May exacerbate progression of retroviral associated diseases including MDS and acute myelogenous leukemia

Question 4

Clinical Dz - M haemominutum

Answer 4

Mild or no clinical signs
–Mild or absence of anemia
If concurrent disease (M haemominutum in P with LSA) –> anemia worse
In cats co-infected with M haemominutum or M haemofelis and FeLV/FIV –> anemia worse

Question 5

DDX

Answer 5

IMHA 
--both Coombs test positive 
--demonstrate organisms to differentiate 
Cytauxzoon
-Different morphology 
-Also will present in worse shape 
Heinz body anemia 
--NM blue 
Pyruvate kinase deficiency 
--Enzyme assays 
--VERY RARE IN CATS

Question 6

DX

Answer 6

CBC - anemia
--Usually regenerative 
--Regeneration poor if decease in PCV very precipitous 
Auto-agglutination at low temps 
Leukocyte counts - variable 
Hemoglobinemia - rare

Question 7

DX Chem Panel

Answer 7

Usually ok
Increased bili - some cases, mild
Hypoglycemia - sometimes in moribund cats
Plasma proteins - usually normal

Question 8

Dx - ?

Answer 8

Made by seeing parasites on RBCS
–Wrights-Giemsa
Differentiate from fixation artifacts, Howell-Jolly bodies, and basophilic stippling
Parasitemia may be cyclical, so not always present
PCR - more sensitive than stained blood smear

Question 9

Cytology M haemominutum

Answer 9

Parasites smaller than M haemofelis

Fever per RBC

Question 10

Therapy ABX

Answer 10

Tetracycline drugs - main ones used (doxy)
Enroflox - if don’t tolerate tetracycline drugs
ABX control acute infection, rarely clear parasites
–Go to immunologically protected areas

Question 11

Therapy

Answer 11

Prednisone in severely affected
Non-anemic cats can still be infected
Chronic infectious may promote myloproliferative dz in FeLV and/or FIV infected cats
Test blood donor cats using PCR
–MUST TEST 2x!!!
Treat fleas
–Evidence that they can transmit M. Haemofelis
Prognosis excellent if treated early in disease