Just as with Bartonella spp., hemoplasma prevalence rates in
cats and fleas are increasingly being studied worldwide. Prevalence
rates vary among cat populations and geographical areas, ranging
from 27% to 40% (Shaw et al., 2004; Tasker et al., 2004; Lappin
et al., 2006). In this study, ‘Candidatus M. haemominutum’ is the
major species found in cats and fleas, while M. haemofelis is the
subpopulation. Only 11% of hemoplasma-positive cats had the
same hemoplasma species in blood and fleas, suggesting that the
fleas may be feeding on more than one cat as discussed for the Bartonella
spp. In addition, current flea infestation did not increase the
risk of hemoplasma infection in these cats. C. felis may play a minor role on transmission of hemoplasmas in cats, and fleas may merely
obtain hemoplasmas via the hematophagous activity. Fighting and
biting are proposed to be the natural route of hemoplasma transmission
(Sykes, 2010).