Hemotrophic mycoplasmas comprise a group of bacteria that can cause hemolytic anemia and several chronic diseases in animals. In cats three infecting species of hemoplasmas are reported: M. haemofelis, ‘Candidatus M. haemominutum’ and ‘Candidatus M. turicensis’, the first being considered the most pathogenic, whereas the dogs are normally infected by at least two mycoplasma species M. haemocanis and ‘Candidatus M. haematoparvum’. In order to assess the occurrence of hemotrophic mycoplasmas in feline and canine populations of Belém city were analyzed, by PCR, the genetic material from blood samples of 299 domiciled and stray animals. In 8.03% (24/299) of DNA samples of hemotrophic mycoplasmas was amplified, 1.78 % (3 /169) from infected dogs and 16.15% (21 /130) from infected cats. Among the cats the highest rates of infection were found in domiciled animals 22.86% (16/70) and in males 29.51% (18/61), the species ‘Candidatus M. haemominutum’ 8.46 % (11/130) get the higher incidence when compared to species Mycoplasma haemofelis 6.92 % (9/130). The infection in dogs was only identified among stray animals, with the ‘Candidatus M. haematoparvum’ being the only species identified with a rate of 1.78 % (3/169). It was possible to assess that hemotrophic mycoplasmas circulate in both species in the present report, domiciled felines and males formed the group at highest risk for infection and the agent ‘Candidatus M. haematoparvum’ seems to be the only one in circulation in the canine population.
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