Species: Cats
Specimen: Whole blood
Container: EDTA: (lavender top)
Collection protocol:
Mix blood and anticoagulant gently and as soon as possible to prevent clotting. Make and air dry a blood smear as soon as possible to prevent artefactual changes occurring in the RBCs and WBCs. Do not refrigerate smears. Keep smears away from flies
Special handling/shipping requirements:
Make a smear as soon as possible because the organisms tend to drop off the RBCs in transit to the laboratory.
General information about the disease:
Mycoplasmas are small bacteria without cell walls that attach to the surface of RBCs. There are three species present in New Zealand namely Mycoplasma haemofelis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum, Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis.
General information about when this test is indicated: When anaemia is detected or suspected in cats.
Comparison with other related tests: A PCR test is available for confirmation of the disease if required. This requires a fresh EDTA blood sample or a sample that has not already been put through the analyser because there is a very small chance that there may be transfer of organisms from a prior infected sample.