Research overview: hemotropic mycoplasmas and feline infectious anemia in wild cats

Hemotropic mycoplasmas, formerly called Haemobartonella, attach to red blood cells and can cause infectious anemia in felids, with wild cats carrying these bacteria across many populations. This overview surveys the diversity of feline hemoplasmas, their transmission by fleas and possibly biting, and the spectrum from subclinical carriage to clinical anemia, especially in animals stressed or co-infected with immunosuppressive viruses. It examines molecular surveys detecting hemoplasmas in lions, pumas and small wild cats, and the interactions with FIV and other pathogens. The synthesis connects these blood-borne bacteria to the broader picture of felid hemoparasites. It aims to help readers understand a group of red-cell parasites that usually persist quietly but can contribute to disease, particularly when the host’s immune defenses are already compromised.