This study investigated the prevalence of feline haemoplasma infections in a number of stray cat colonies in Milan, Northern Italy. Blood samples from 260 stray cats were evaluated, with conventional PCR, for the presence of DNA associated with Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf) and “Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum” (CMhm). Odd ratios (OR) were calculated to identify risk factors for haemoplasma infections. PCR was positive in 86 out of 260 subjects (33.1%), with a prevalence of 10.8% (28/260 cats) for Mhf and 22.3% (58/260 cats) for CMhm. No coinfections were registered. There were significant associations between infections and season of sampling, that is, a negative association between winter sampling and a haemoplasma positive status , , or CMhm positive status , . Haemoplasma infections are common in stray cats in Milan. Thus, domestic cats with outdoor access should be routinely monitored and treated for ectoparasites to minimize risks of disease acquisition. Moreover, as these infections are transmitted via blood, feline blood donors from this area should be screened by PCR and preferably be drawn from a population of indoor cats regularly treated for fleas. 1. Introduction Haemotropic mycoplasmas (haemoplasmas) are bacterial organisms without cell walls that attach to and grow on the surface of red blood cells. Three feline haemoplasma species are described: Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), “Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum” (CMhm), and “Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis” (CMt) [1]. These feline haemoplasmas are the causative agents of infectious anemia in cats and in several mammalian species. There is also potential interspecies transmission of some of these agents as recorded from cats to immunocompromised dogs [2]. Their zoonotic potential has recently been substantiated by the molecular identification of a feline haemoplasma isolate (Mhf) in an HIV-positive immunocompromised human patient [3]. The three feline haemoplasma species have different pathogenicities, Mhf often resulting in haemolysis and severe anaemia in contrast to CMhm and CMt which are less pathogenic [4]. Although several studies worldwide have reported on the epidemiology of feline hemoplasmosis in sick or healthy client-owned pet cats with prevalences ranging from 7.2% to 45.8% [5–19] and few studies have focused on stray cat (with prevalences from 11.5% to 60% [20–24]), there have been no studies investigating stray cats in Northern Italy. Information on regional prevalence of haemoplasmas could be used to limit the spread of diseases in feline populations and for predicting the
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