Haemoplasma infection is not a common cause of canine immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia in the UK

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the two canine haemoplasma species, Mycoplasma haemocanis and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum’, are associated with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA) in UK dogs. Methods: Three groups of dogs were recruited to the study: anaemic dogs with primary IMHA (n=37); anaemic dogs not meeting the inclusion criteria for primary IMHA (n=77); and non-anaemic dogs (n=113). DNA was extracted from 100 μl of blood and subjected to real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays for both species of Mycoplasma. Each assay incorporated amplification of a canine endogenous internal control gene. Results: Canine GAPDH was successfully amplified by qPCR from all 227 canine blood samples but none of the samples contained M. haemocanis or ‘Candidatus M. haematoparvum’ DNA. Clinical Significance: Haemoplasma infection is uncommon in dogs in the UK and no evidence was found that these organisms act as triggers for IMHA.