Caracterización molecular de Mycoplasmosis felina en gatos atendidos en un consultorio del suburbio de la ciudad de Guayaquil, Ecuador, 2024

Abstract

Feline mycoplasmosis has gained relevance in Veterinary Medicine due to its ability to severely affect domestic cats, compromising their hematological status and increasing the risk of severe anemia. Additionally, clinical signs such as lethargy, anorexia, and pale mucous membranes may be present, which are sometimes difficult to diagnose using traditional methods. This study was conducted in a veterinary clinic in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with the aim of characterizing feline mycoplasmosis through molecular techniques and evaluating the diagnostic effectiveness of blood smear compared to PCR. Blood samples were collected from 20 cats with clinical signs compatible with mycoplasmosis, resulting in 8 (40%) PCR-positive cases and 12 (60%) PCR- negative cases. Moreover, the most prevalent species was Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (35%), followed by Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (15%) and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemofelis (10%). The blood smear showed low sensitivity (25%) but high specificity (91.7%) compared to the molecular technique. Likewise, a higher proportion of positive cases was observed in adult cats and those with low body weight, although the differences were not statistically significant. The results confirm the importance of molecular diagnostics in cats suspected of having mycoplasmosis. This research provides local evidence of Mycoplasma circulation in felines, highlighting the need to adopt accurate detection tools to support therapeutic decision-making and disease control.