Prevalence of hemoplasmas and Bartonella species in client-owned cats in Beijing and Shanghai, China

• Published in: Journal of Veterinary Medical Science Vol. 83; no. 5; pp. 793 - 797
• Main Authors: YU, Yonglan, LOU, Yinying, ZHANG, Zhixuan, ZHANG, Yingxin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan JAPANESE SOCIETY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 2021; Japan Science and Technology Agency; The Japanese Society of Veterinary Science
• Subjects: Animals; Bartonella; Beijing; Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum; Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis; Cat Diseases - epidemiology; Cats; China; China - epidemiology; DNA, Bacterial; Epidemiology; feline; hemoplasma; Mycoplasma; Mycoplasma haemofelis; Mycoplasma Infections - epidemiology; Mycoplasma Infections - veterinary; Prevalence; Public Health; risk factor; Zoonoses; Beijing; China; Beijing China; Shanghai China; Bartonella; hemoplasma; feline; risk factor; China
• ISSN: 0916-7250; 1347-7439; 1347-7439
• DOI: 10.1292/jvms.20-0681

A year-round molecular epidemiological survey (2017 to 2018) was conducted on three hemoplasmas and two Bartonella species with zoonotic potential in client-owned cats in Beijing and Shanghai. Among 668 specimens, the overall hemoplasma-positive rate was 4.9% (3.4% for Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum, 0.9% for Mycoplasma haemofelis and 1.2% for Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis). The overall Bartonella-positive rate was 8.5% (4.8% for B. henselae and 4.3% for B. clarridgeiae). Age, breed, ectoparasiticide use and stray history, but not city, season and gender, were significantly associated with the positive rates of one or more pathogens. This is also the first report on the prevalence of Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis in cats in China.