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==Aetiology==

==Aetiology==

Mhf is one of a group of organisms known as haemotropic mycoplasmas which infect several other domestic animal species. The causative organism was previously called Haemobartonella felis and thus the disease was known as haemobartonellosis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays allowing DNA analysis resulted in the reclassification of the organism in 2001¹. Two other haemotropic mycoplasmas (''Candidatus M. haemominutum'' and ''Candidatus M. turicensis'') have been identified in cats but appear to be less pathogenic².

Mhf is one of a group of organisms known as haemotropic mycoplasmas which infect several other domestic animal species. The causative organism was previously called Haemobartonella felis and thus the disease was known as haemobartonellosis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays allowing DNA analysis resulted in the reclassification of the organism in 2001<ref name="Niemark">Niemark H, Johansson KE, Rikihisa Y, et al (2001) Proposal to transfer some members of the genera ''Haemobartonella'' and ''Eperythrozoon'' to the genus ''Mycoplasma'' with descriptions of Candidatus ''Mycoplasma haemofelis'', Candidatus ''Mycoplasma haemomuris'', Candidatus ''Mycoplasma haemosuis'' and Candidatus ''Mycoplasma wenyonii'' '''Int J Sys Evol Microbiol 51(3) pp891-9</ref>. Two other haemotropic mycoplasmas (''Candidatus M. haemominutum'' and ''Candidatus M. turicensis'') have been identified in cats but appear to be less pathogenic<ref name="Sykes">Sykes, JE (2010) Feline Hemotropic Mycoplasmas '''Vet Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice''' pp. 1157-1170</ref>.

The gold standard for diagnosis of Mhf infection is polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which detects the 16S RNA gene. The test is widely available through veterinary diagnostic laboratories. There are two types of PCR tests; conventional PCR which uses the presence or absence of bands on a gel to assess infection, and real-time PCR assays which uses fluoresence to mark a segment of DNA unique to the organism, making it highly sensitive and species-specific and thus the test of choice². Treatment with antimicrobials may result in false negatives on PCR so collecting before beginning therapy is pereferable.

The gold standard for diagnosis of Mhf infection is polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which detects the 16S RNA gene. The test is widely available through veterinary diagnostic laboratories. There are two types of PCR tests; conventional PCR which uses the presence or absence of bands on a gel to assess infection, and real-time PCR assays which uses fluoresence to mark a segment of DNA unique to the organism, making it highly sensitive and species-specific and thus the test of choice<ref name="Sykes"></ref>. Treatment with antimicrobials may result in false negatives on PCR so collecting before beginning therapy is pereferable.

==Treatment==

==Treatment==

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==References==

==References==

#Niemark H, Johansson KE, Rikihisa Y, et al (2001) Proposal to transfer some members of the genera ''Haemobartonella'' and ''Eperythrozoon'' to the genus ''Mycoplasma'' with descriptions of Candidatus ''Mycoplasma haemofelis'', Candidatus ''Mycoplasma haemomuris'', Candidatus ''Mycoplasma haemosuis'' and Candidatus ''Mycoplasma wenyonii'' '''Int J Sys Evol Microbiol 51(3) pp891-9

#Niemark H, Johansson KE, Rikihisa Y, et al (2001) Proposal to transfer some members of the genera ''Haemobartonella'' and ''Eperythrozoon'' to the genus ''Mycoplasma'' with descriptions of Candidatus ''Mycoplasma haemofelis'', Candidatus ''Mycoplasma haemomuris'', Candidatus ''Mycoplasma haemosuis'' and Candidatus ''Mycoplasma wenyonii'' '''Int J Sys Evol Microbiol 51(3) pp891-9