Molecular diagnosis for Mycoplasma spp. and Bartonella spp. in healthy cats participating in castration campaigns in the southern area of the City of São Paulo, SP

• Grant number: 17/18758-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2018
• End date: February 28, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Jonas Moraes Filho
• Grantee: Zahi Êni Santos Souza
• Host Institution: Universidade de Santo Amaro (UNISA). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Bacteria of the genus Bartonella are classified as gram negative, anaerobic, facultative intracellular, belonging to the class of Proteobacteria (alfabactérias). Due to its zoonotic potential and its high incidence in different regions of the world, infecting mammalian reservoirs and hosts, in which transmission is associated with numerous vectors such as ticks, fleas and lice. Cats with bartonellosis may present with clinical features characterized by: epistaxis, melena, ecchymoses, neurological signs, heart diseases (endocarditis), hemolytic anemia, meningoencephalitis, cutaneous vasculitis, hepatic alterations and ocular inflammatory processes including uveitis, hyphema and retinal inflammation. Laboratory findings include thrombocytopenia, hyperproteinemia, and leukopenia. Mycoplasma haemofelis, formerly called Haemobartonella felis, is a coccidian and epieritrociarial bacterium (TASKER, 2004). A pathogen that causes feline mycoplasmosis or feline haemotropic mycoplasmosis (MHF) is most often subclinical, but in some cases it occurs acutely resulting in hemolytic anemia ranging from mild to severe (NEIMARK et al., 2001). The main form of transmission of the disease occurs through arthropods, such as fleas (C. felis) and ticks (R. sanguineus), or iatrogenic form, for example, by blood transfusion (HARVEY, 2006). This project aims at molecular detection in healthy cats treated in castration campaigns in the southern area of the city of. In the presence of Mycoplasma spp. And Bartonella spp. The presence of ectoparasites in these animals will also be verified and the presence of Mycoplasma spp. And Bartonella spp. The methodology adopted in the present work will allow to verify the molecular detection of Hemobartonella spp. And Mycoplasma spp. In healthy cats treated in castration campaigns in the southern zone of the city of São Paulo, SP. The results of this project will be fundamental for a better understanding of the transmission of these diseases, since they have not yet been studied in Veterinary Medicine, with few reports of diagnosis in the scientific literature. (AU)