Molecular Characterization of Hemoparasites and Hemoplasmas Infecting Domestic Cats of Southern India

Abstract

In the present study, 111 blood samples were collected from apparently healthy cats belonging to four districts of Kerala, southern India, and they were investigated for the presence of hemoparasites and hemoplasmas by light microscopic examination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The microscopic examination of the Giemsa-stained blood smears did not reveal any parasites/organisms. However, PCR followed by nucleotide sequencing could detect 10 (9.01%) out of 111 samples infected with <i>Hepatozoon felis</i>, 3 (2.70%) with <i>Cytauxzoon</i> spp., and 10 (9.01%) with <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. None of the samples revealed amplicons specific for the <i>Babesia</i> spp. and <i>Trypanosoma evansi</i>. The phylogenetic analysis of 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences of <i>H. felis</i> revealed the existence of two different populations of <i>H. felis</i> circulating in the blood of infected cats. The phylogenetic tree was constructed based on 18S rRNA gene sequences of <i>Cytauxzoon</i> spp. and revealed that these isolates formed a distinct clade and do not cluster with any of the isolates from other countries. Among the 10 samples positive for <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. infections, 7 were detected positive for <i>Candidatus</i> Mycoplasma haemominutum, two for <i>Mycoplasma haemofelis</i>, and one for <i>Candidatus</i> Mycoplasma turicensis. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences of <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. showed no distinct geographical grouping of the sequences. The sequences of <i>M. haemofelis, Candidatus</i> M. haemominutum, and <i>Candidatus</i> M. turicensis identified in the study clustered along with their respective isolates from around the world. To the best of our knowledge, this study forms the first report of molecular detection of <i>Cytauxzoon</i> spp. and <i>Candidatus</i> M. turicensis in cats from India.