An Epidemiological Survey of Hemoplasma Infection in Iriomote Cats (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis)

Momoko HIRATA; Morihiro TATENO; Masato SAKUMA; Nozomi NAKANISHI; Masako IZAWA; Yumiko ASARI; Maki OKAMURA; Takako SHIMOKAWA MIYAMA; Asuka SETOGUCHI; Yasuyuki ENDO

doi:10.1292/jvms.12-0094

Internal Medicine

An Epidemiological Survey of Hemoplasma Infection in Iriomote Cats (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis)

Momoko HIRATA, Morihiro TATENO, Masato SAKUMA, Nozomi NAKANISHI, Masako IZAWA, Yumiko ASARI, Maki OKAMURA, Takako SHIMOKAWA MIYAMA, Asuka SETOGUCHI, Yasuyuki ENDO

Author information

Momoko HIRATA
Laboratory of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1–21–24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, Kagoshima 890–0065, Japan
Morihiro TATENO
Laboratory of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1–21–24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, Kagoshima 890–0065, Japan
Masato SAKUMA
Laboratory of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1–21–24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, Kagoshima 890–0065, Japan
Nozomi NAKANISHI
Laboratory of Ecology and Systematics, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903–0213, Japan
Masako IZAWA
Laboratory of Ecology and Systematics, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903–0213, Japan
Yumiko ASARI
Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center, Ministry of the Environment, Komi, Taketomi, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa 907–1432, Japan
Maki OKAMURA
Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center, Ministry of the Environment, Komi, Taketomi, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa 907–1432, Japan
Takako SHIMOKAWA MIYAMA
Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Kagoshima University, 1–21–24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, Kagoshima 890–0065, Japan
Asuka SETOGUCHI
Laboratory of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1–21–24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, Kagoshima 890–0065, Japan
Yasuyuki ENDO
Laboratory of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1–21–24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, Kagoshima 890–0065, Japan

Keywords: conservation, endangered species, hemotropic mycoplasma, Iriomote cat, wildcat

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2012 Volume 74 Issue 12 Pages 1531-1537

DOI https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.12-0094

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Abstract

An epidemiological survey of Iriomote cats (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis) was conducted to understand the prevalence and molecular characteristics of hemotropic mycoplasma (hemoplasma). A series of ecological surveys of Iriomote cats were performed between November 2003 and September 2010. During this period, 31 Iriomote cats were captured or found, and 39 blood samples were collected. Polymerase chain reaction screening for hemoplasmas and BLAST searches revealed that 4 of the 31 cats were positive for hemoplasma infection (n=3, Mycoplasma haemofelis [Mhf]; n=1, ‘Candidatus M. turicensis’ [CMt]). The 4 infected cats were captured or found in the northern area of the island of Iriomote. Phylogenetic analyses revealed close relationships between Mhf and CMt isolated from Iriomote cats compared with those from domestic cats and other wild felids. In our study, we identified two species of hemoplasma in Iriomote cats. The number and location of the hemoplasma-positive cats appeared to be limited; however, continuous surveillance of hemoplasma infection in Iriomote cats is necessary.

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