2007 Volume 69 Issue 10 Pages 1061-1063
We have examined the presence of hemoplasmas, hemotropic mycoplasmas, among domestic cats (Felis catus) in Japan by using a species specific PCR, and found `Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis', a recently recognized hemoplasma species. A total of 60 feline blood samples collected in 2004 and 2005 were subjected to PCR amplification for the detection of Mycoplasma haemofelis, `Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' and `Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis'. Six blood samples collected from domestic cats were found infected with the `Candidatus M. turicensis'. All of them are also infected with other species of hemoplasmas, M. haemofelis and/or `Candidatus M. haemominutum'. This is the first to demonstrate `Candidatus M. turicensis' infections among cat population in Japan.