Passive immunization does not provide protection against experimental infection with Mycoplasma haemofelis

Sugiarto, Sarah; Spiri, Andrea M.; Riond, Barbara; Novacco, Marilisa; Oestmann, Angelina; de Miranda, Luisa H. Monteiro; Meli, Marina L.; Boretti, Felicitas S.; Hofmann-Lehmann, Regina; Willi, Barbara

Feline hemoplasmas comprise at least three different species: Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum" (CMhm) and "Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis" (CMt) [8] [9] [10] . Concurrent infections with two or three hemoplasma species have been documented [11] [12] [13] [14] , suggesting that no immunological cross-protection exists between the feline hemoplasmas, which has recently been experimentally confirmed [15] . Mhf is the most pathogenic of the three feline hemoplasma species and can induce severe hemolytic anemia, which is potentially fatal if left untreated. In contrast, the other two feline hemoplasmas may induce mild anemia, and the infection often remains subclinical [16] .