Natural hemoplasma infection of cats in Cuiaba, Mato Grosso, Brazil

The aim of this research was to investigate natural hemoplasma infection in cats treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Mato Grosso, and the factors associated with infection. Blood samples from 151 cats of different sexes, breeds, and ages were analyzed by PCR and blood count. The overall occurrence of hemoplasma was 25.8%. Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (CMhm)’, and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ (CMt) were observed in 15.2%, 14.6% and 2.6% of cats, respectively. In 6.6 % of cases, co-infection was observed. Male felines or mixed breed cats were associated with infection by CMhm (P = 0.02 and 0.04, respectively). The data obtained demonstrated an occurrence of 25.8% for hemoplasma infection in felines coming from clinical care in the city of Cuiabá, where males were at higher risk of acquiring the infection by these agents, in addition to a higher risk for CMhm in felines with no specific breed

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in dogs and cats in a highly infected area of Brazil during the pandemic

: SARS-CoV-2 was a worldwide threat during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the state of Mato Grosso had the second highest mortality rate in Brazil, with 427. 4 deaths/100,000 inhabitants. However, no large-scale study among dogs and cats in such highly infected areas of Brazil has so far been conducted. Accordingly, the present study reports on a serosurvey among dogs and cats in Cuiabá, capital of Mato Grosso from November 2020 to July 2021, where the human mortality rate was 605/100,000 at that time. Overall, 33/762 dogs (4.3%) and 4/182 cats (2.2%) were found to be seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 through ELISA, and 3/762 dogs (0.4%) and 3/182 cats (1.6%) were seropositive through the serum neutralization test. Cats presented higher seroprevalence with higher titers of neutralizing antibodies. Although N-protein based ELISA may be a good screening test, cross-reactivity with other canine coronaviruses may impair its diagnostic use among dogs