dog and cat assay data sheet

Mycoplasma turicensis

Test code: B0116 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of Mycoplasma turicensis by real time polymerase chain reaction

Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (CMt) is one of the most common hemoplasmas in cats. This bacterial species infects the red blood cells of cats and causes anemia. In immunocompetent cats, infection with this bacterial species usually results in subclinical presentation, but it can cause severe anemia in immunosuppressed cats. Because infected cats may not be easily identified, these cats can be chronic carriers of the bacteria. Infection of cats with this bacterial species occurs worldwide, and it is estimated that 0.5% to 10% of sick cats visiting veterinary clinics are infected with M. turicensis. Co-infection with feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus is common, so testing for these two viruses is also often performed on cats suspected of being infected with M. turicensis.

Transmission of this bacterial species is likely through direct contact with infected blood, primarily via aggressive interactions like cat bites, or blood transfusion. Casual social contact or grooming is unlikely to result in transmission. However, the exact natural transmission route remains largely unknown. Besides cats, other animals, including dogs, sheep, cattle, and water buffalo, can also be infected by this bacterial species.

Mycoplasma turicensis is difficult to culture, and diagnosis of infection by blood smear microscopy has a low sensitivity. However, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is often used to diagnose this infection due to its high sensitivity and specificity (Altay et al., 2025; Imre et al., 2020).

Utilities:

• Help confirm the disease causing agent
• Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical diagnosis of Mycoplasma turicensis infection
• Help ensure that cat populations are free of M. turicensis
• Early prevention of spread of M. turicensis among a group of cats
• Minimize human exposure to M. turicensis

References:
Altay, K., Coskun, A., Erol, U., Sahin, O.F. and Turk, S. (2025) Development of a novel triplex-PCR assay for the identification of feline hemoplasma species and survey of hemoplasma species in cats in Türkiye. Parasitol. Int. 104:102969.

Specimen requirement: 0.2 ml EDTA whole blood, or 0.2 ml tissue culture, or tissue biopsy.

Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Qualitative real time PCR

Normal range: Nondetected