Prevalence, risk factor analysis, and hematological findings of hemoplasma infection in domestic cats from Valdivia, Southern Chile

• “Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis” and “Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum-like” were found for the first time in cats from Chile.
• Male sex, older age, outdoor access and FIV status were risk factors for hemoplasmosis in cats.
• Older age turned out to be a risk factor for “Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum” positivity in cats.
• Mycoplasma haemofelis positive-cats had higher mean corpuscular value (MCV) without anemia and higher monocyte count.

Four distinct cat hemoplasma species are recognized worldwide. However, this is the first study to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and hematological findings of hemoplasmas in cats from Chile. Complete blood count and 16S rRNA real-time PCR for cat hemoplasma species were performed in 384 blood samples from domestic cats in Valdivia, Chile. Among the 384 samples the species-specific prevalence was as follows: ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ (7.8%), Mycoplasma haemofelis (4.4%), ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ (1%), ‘Ca. M. haemominutum’ + M. haemofelis (0.78%), ‘Ca. M. haemominutum’ + ‘Ca. M. turicensis’ (0.52%), ‘Ca. M. haemominutum’ + ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum’ (0.26%) and ‘Ca. M. haemominutum’ + M. haemofelis + ‘Ca. M. haematoparvum’ (0.26%). Male sex, older age, outdoor access, and FIV status were risk factors for hemoplasmosis. Mycoplasma haemofelis-positive cats had higher mean corpuscular volume and monocyte count. Four hemoplasma species circulate in the cat population of Valdivia. ‘Candidatus M. turicensis’ and ‘Ca. M. haematoparvum’ have been reported for the first time in Chilean cats.