Lecture 9 - hemotropic mycoplasma Flashcards
what are 3 unique characteristics of mycoplasma
- very small
- lack cell wall
- small genome
what is the implication of a bacteria lacking a cell wall
they cannot gram stain and are harder to identify in addition to not being able to use antibiotics that target cell wall formation
what is the implication of mycoplasma having a small genome
takes on parasitic features (needing nutrition from host) for replication
in regards to laboratory settings, what is unique about mycoplasma
- challenging to culture
- facultative anaerobe
- “filterable” (small than filters)
hemotropic mycoplasmosis refers to
parasitism of RBCs
T/F: hemotropic mycoplasms affect mammals, but more significantly cats
TRUE
what are the 3 feline focused mycoplasms
- M. haemofelis
- M. haemominutum
- M. turnicensis
how are hemotropic mycoplasma transmitted
- vectors
- blood contamination
what two ways will cats develop hemolytic anemia
- direct damage
- immune-mediated
what are the clinical signs of hemotropic mycoplasma
- anemia
- weakness
- depression
- fever
- icterus
what is different about M. haemominutum and M. turicensis
require reduced immune activity for infection
what animals are more at risk for developing feline infectious anemia
- outdoor
- males
- 1-3 years
- FeLV/FIV positive
what is the treatment for feline infectious anemia
doxycycline/pradofloxacin
transfusion
what would cause a false positive on blood smear
- stain precipiatate
- drying artifact
- howell-jolly bodies
what would cause a false negative on blood smear
- transient parasitemia
- EDTA (lowering attachment to RBCs)
