EXPRESS: Detection of Mycoplasma species and respiratory pathogens in cats with rhinitis and healthy cats

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of Mycoplasma spp. in cats with rhinitis compared to healthy cats and to evaluate factors associated with detection. METHODS: A total of 46 cats with rhinitis and 37 asymptomatic controls were prospectively enrolled. Nasal swabs were collected, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for Mycoplasma spp., Mycoplasma felis, feline herpesvirus (FHV), feline calicivirus (FCV), Bordetella bronchiseptica (B. bronchiseptica) and Chlamydia spp. were performed. All Mycoplasma spp.-positive samples underwent sequencing for species identification. RESULTS: PCR analysis revealed a significantly higher prevalence of Mycoplasma spp. in cats with rhinitis compared to healthy controls (28.3% vs 5.4%; p = 0.037). Mycoplasma felis was detected in 21.7% of rhinitis cases but in none of the controls (p = 0.017).FHV was significantly more prevalent in cats with rhinitis (39.1% vs 8.1%; p = 0.027). In addition, detection of FHV was significantly associated with detection of Mycoplasma spp. and M. felis within the rhinitis group. FCV (17.4% vs 5.4%; p = 0.352) and Chlamydia spp. (4.3% vs 0%; p = 0.481) did not differ between groups. B. bronchiseptica was not detected in either group. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The findings support an association between Mycoplasma detection, particularly M. felis, and feline rhinitis, suggesting clinical relevance of these organisms in feline upper respiratory tract disease. The observed association between Mycoplasma detection and FHV suggests potential viral-bacterial interactions in the pathogenesis of feline upper respiratory tract disease.