Hofmann-Lehmann
Fakultäten » Vetsuisse-Fakultät » Nutztiere, Departement für » Veterinärmedizinisches Labor » Prof. Dr. Regina Hofmann-Lehmann » Hofmann-Lehmann
Completed research project
| Title / Titel | In vivo transmission study of feline haemotropic Mycoplasma | ||||||||
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| Abstract (PDF, 14 KB) | |||||||||
| Summary / Zusammenfassung | The natural transmission routes of the three feline haemotropic mycoplasmas – Mycoplasma haemofelis, ,Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’, and ,Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ (CMt) – are largely unknown. Since the saliva of CMt-infected cats has been found to be PCR-positive, we hypothesised that direct transmission via social or aggressive contact may occur. The aim of this study was to evaluate these transmission routes. To obtain CMt-positive saliva and blood samples to be used as inoculi, three immunosuppressed SPF cats were infected intraperitoneally with CMt. Five SPF cats then received CMt-positive saliva or blood inoculi subcutaneously to mimic cat bites, while another five cats received the inoculi orally (blood)/oronasally (saliva) to mimic social contact. Blood samples were monitored for CMt infection by quantitative real-time PCR and for seroconversion using a novel Western blot assay. Neither oronasal nor subcutaneous inoculation with CMt-positive saliva led to CMt infection in the recipient cats, as determined by PCR, independent of presence of immunosuppression. When infectious blood containing the same CMt dose was given subcutaneously, four of the five cats became PCR-positive, while none of the five cats inoculated orally with up to 500 μl of infectious blood became PCR-positive. Subsequently, the latter cats were successfully subcutaneously infected with blood. The two blood type B cats showed a somewhat different course of infection than the blood type A cats. Nonetheless, all 13 CMt-exposed cats seroconverted. In conclusion, CMt transmission by social contact seems highly unlikely, while transmission via aggressive interaction may occur if the recipient cat is exposed to infectious blood. This project is the basis of the veterinary dissertation of Kristina Museux. |
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| Publications / Publikationen | Museux K, Boretti FS, Willi B, Riond B, Hoelzle K, Hoelzle LE, Wittenbrink MM, Tasker S, Wengi N, Reusch CE, Lutz H, Hofmann-Lehmann R. 2009. In vivo transmission studies of 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis' in the domestic cat. Vet Res. 40(5):45. | ||||||||
| Keywords / Suchbegriffe | Hemoplasma, hemotropic mycoplasma, infectious hemolytic anemia, haemobartonella felis, 16s rRNA gene, real-time TaqMan PCR, pathogenesis, transmission, saliva | ||||||||
| Project leadership and contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte |
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| Funding source(s) / Unterstützt durch |
Private Sector (e.g. Industry), No project-specific funding |
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| In collaboration with / In Zusammenarbeit mit |
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| Duration of Project / Projektdauer | Jul 2007 to Apr 2009 |