Hofmann-Lehmann
Fakultäten » Vetsuisse-Fakultät » Nutztiere, Departement für » Veterinärmedizinisches Labor » Prof. Dr. Regina Hofmann-Lehmann » Hofmann-Lehmann
Completed research project
| Title / Titel | Hemotropic Mycoplasma as Causative Agent of Infectious Anemia: Epidemiology and Zoonotic Potential | ||||||||
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| Abstract (PDF, 14 KB) | |||||||||
| Summary / Zusammenfassung | Hemotropic mycoplasmas, also known as the hemoplasmas, are the causative agents of infectious anemia. Originally classified as Haemobartonella and Eperythrozoon species within the order Rickettsiales, these organisms have recently been reclassified based on phylogenetic analyses of their 16S rRNA genes and form a new cluster of red blood cell parasites within the genus Mycoplasma. Hemoplasma infections are of clinical relevance in different mammalian species, such as cats, dogs, swine and ruminants. In recent years, these agents have drawn increasing attention due to their species diversity and their pathogenic and probably zoonotic potential. Since hemoplasmas cannot be cultured in vitro, diagnosis until recently has solely relied upon their cytological identification on blood smears, a method with a low diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. More recently, molecular assays have been developed for the detection and quantification of various hemoplasma species. There is little knowledge of the way of transmission and possible reservoirs of hemoplasmas. Blood-sucking arthropods, such as ticks and fleas, have been suspected as potential vectors. For cats, direct transmission by bites has also been discussed. Interestingly, some feline hemoplasma species are closely related to canine hemoplasmas, and we recently described a third feline hemoplasma, which is most closely related to rodent hemoplasmas. These findings suggest that an interspecies transmission from mice to cats or cats to dogs could have taken place. Thus, especially if vector-borne transmission of hemotropic mycoplasmas can be confirmed, a zoonotic potential of hemoplasma infections must be considered. The present project aimed to develop and improve molecular tools for the detection of hemoplasmas. These methods were then applied to investigate the occurrence of hemoplasma infections in different mammalian species and to address the role of these agents in the etiology of infectious anemia. Furthermore, different hypotheses concerning the way of transmission and potential reservoirs of hemoplasmas were addressed. The project was conducted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Ph.D. degree at the Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich. |
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| Publications / Publikationen | Wengi, N., B. Willi, F. S. Boretti, V. Cattori, B. Riond, M. L. Meli, C. E. Reusch, H. Lutz, and R. Hofmann-Lehmann. 2008. Real-time PCR-based prevalence study, infection follow-up and molecular characterization of canine hemotropic mycoplasmas. Vet Microbiol 126:132-41.Willi, B., F. S. Boretti, C. Baumgartner, V. Cattori, M. L. Meli, M. G. Doherr, C. E. Reusch, and R. Hofmann-Lehmann. 2006. [Feline haemoplasma in Switzerland: identification of a novel species, diagnosis, prevalence, and clinical importance]. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd 148:139-40, 142, 144 passim.Willi, B., F. S. Boretti, C. Baumgartner, S. Tasker, B. Wenger, V. Cattori, M. L. Meli, C. E. Reusch, H. Lutz, and R. Hofmann-Lehmann. 2006. Prevalence, risk factor analysis, and follow-up of infections caused by three feline hemoplasma species in cats in Switzerland. J Clin Microbiol 44:961-9.Willi, B., F. S. Boretti, V. Cattori, S. Tasker, M. L. Meli, C. Reusch, H. Lutz, and R. Hofmann-Lehmann. 2005. Identification, molecular characterization, and experimental transmission of a new hemoplasma isolate from a cat with hemolytic anemia in Switzerland. J Clin Microbiol 43:2581-5.Willi, B., F. S. Boretti, M. L. Meli, M. V. Bernasconi, S. Casati, D. Hegglin, M. Puorger, H. Neimark, V. Cattori, N. Wengi, C. E. Reusch, H. Lutz, and R. Hofmann-Lehmann. 2007. Real-time PCR investigation of potential vectors, reservoirs, and shedding patterns of feline hemotropic mycoplasmas. Appl Environ Microbiol 73:3798-802.Willi, B., F. S. Boretti, S. Tasker, M. L. Meli, N. Wengi, C. E. Reusch, H. Lutz, and R. Hofmann-Lehmann. 2007. From Haemobartonella to hemoplasma: molecular methods provide new insights. Vet Microbiol 125:197-209.Willi, B., C. Filoni, J. L. Catao-Dias, V. Cattori, M. L. Meli, A. Vargas, F. Martinez, M. E. Roelke, M. P. Ryser-Degiorgis, C. M. Leutenegger, H. Lutz, and R. Hofmann-Lehmann. 2007. Worldwide occurrence of feline hemoplasma infections in wild felid species. J Clin Microbiol 45:1159-66.Willi, B., S. Tasker, F. S. Boretti, M. G. Doherr, V. Cattori, M. L. Meli, R. G. Lobetti, R. Malik, C. E. Reusch, H. Lutz, and R. Hofmann-Lehmann. 2006. Phylogenetic Analysis of "Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis" Isolates from Pet Cats in the United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa, with Analysis of Risk Factors for Infection. J Clin Microbiol 44:4430-4435. | ||||||||
| Keywords / Suchbegriffe | Hemoplasma, hemotropic mycoplasma, infectious hemolytic anemia, haemobartonella felis, real-time TaqMan PCR, sybr green assay, zoonosis, transmission, reservoir | ||||||||
| Project leadership and contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte |
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| Funding source(s) / Unterstützt durch |
Foundation, Private Sector (e.g. Industry) Roche Research Foundation |
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| In collaboration with / In Zusammenarbeit mit |
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| Duration of Project / Projektdauer | Dec 2006 to Dec 2007 |