OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Ctenocephalides felis can transmit Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf) and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (Mhm) through hematophagous activity between cats. ANIMALS: 11 cats. PROCEDURE: 2 cats were carriers of either Mhf or Mhm. Nine cats had negative results via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for Mhf and Mhm DNA; 3 of those cats were infected from the chronic carriers via i.v. inoculation of blood. At the time of maximum organism count for each of the Mycoplasma spp, 1 chamber containing 100 C felis was bandaged to the amplifier cats. Five days later, fleas, feces, larvae, or eggs from each chamber were analyzed for Mycoplasma spp DNA. Viable fleas from the chambers were allocated into new chambers (3 Mhm and 6 Mhf) and attached to naïve cats for 5 days. Cats were monitored daily for clinical signs and weekly via CBC and PCR assay for infection with Mhf or Mhm for a minimum of 8 weeks. RESULTS: Uptake of Mhf and Mhm DNA into fleas, feces, and, potentially, eggs and larvae was detected. Of the naïve cats fed on by Mhf-infected fleas, 1 cat transiently yielded positive PCR assay results for Mhf on 1 sampling date without clinical or hematologic changes consistent with Mhf infection. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that hematophagous transfer of Mhm and Mhf into fleas occurred and that C felis is a possible vector for Mhf via hematophagous activity.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Ctenocephalides felis can transmit Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf) and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (Mhm) through hematophagous activity between cats. ANIMALS: 11 cats. PROCEDURE: 2 cats were carriers of either Mhf or Mhm. Nine cats had negative results via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for Mhf and Mhm DNA; 3 of those cats were infected from the chronic carriers via i.v. inoculation of blood. At the time of maximum organism count for each of the Mycoplasma spp, 1 chamber containing 100 C felis was bandaged to the amplifier cats. Five days later, fleas, feces, larvae, or eggs from each chamber were analyzed for Mycoplasma spp DNA. Viable fleas from the chambers were allocated into new chambers (3 Mhm and 6 Mhf) and attached to naïve cats for 5 days. Cats were monitored daily for clinical signs and weekly via CBC and PCR assay for infection with Mhf or Mhm for a minimum of 8 weeks. RESULTS: Uptake of Mhf and Mhm DNA into fleas, feces, and, potentially, eggs and larvae was detected. Of the naïve cats fed on by Mhf-infected fleas, 1 cat transiently yielded positive PCR assay results for Mhf on 1 sampling date without clinical or hematologic changes consistent with Mhf infection. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that hematophagous transfer of Mhm and Mhf into fleas occurred and that C felis is a possible vector for Mhf via hematophagous activity.
Authors: Barbara Willi; Séverine Tasker; Felicitas S Boretti; Marcus G Doherr; Valentino Cattori; Marina L Meli; Remo G Lobetti; Richard Malik; Claudia E Reusch; Hans Lutz; Regina Hofmann-Lehmann Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2006-10-11 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Barbara Willi; Felicitas S Boretti; Marina L Meli; Marco V Bernasconi; Simona Casati; Daniel Hegglin; Maria Puorger; Harold Neimark; Valentino Cattori; Nicole Wengi; Claudia E Reusch; Hans Lutz; Regina Hofmann-Lehmann Journal: Appl Environ Microbiol Date: 2007-04-27 Impact factor: 4.792
Authors: Belle Marie D Nibblett; Cheryl Waldner; Susan M Taylor; Marion L Jackson; Laina M Knorr; Elisabeth C Snead Journal: Can J Vet Res Date: 2010-04 Impact factor: 1.310
Authors: Marina L Meli; Barbara Willi; Ute M Dreher; Valentino Cattori; Gabriela Knubben-Schweizer; Karl Nuss; Ueli Braun; Hans Lutz; Regina Hofmann-Lehmann Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2010-08-04 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Kristina Museux; Felicitas S Boretti; Barbara Willi; Barbara Riond; Katharina Hoelzle; Ludwig E Hoelzle; Max M Wittenbrink; Séverine Tasker; Nicole Wengi; Claudia E Reusch; Hans Lutz; Regina Hofmann-Lehmann Journal: Vet Res Date: 2009-05-16 Impact factor: 3.683