Development and evaluation of a real-time polymerase chain reaction method for the detection of Mycoplasma felis

Infection by Mycoplasma felis is associated with ocular and respiratory disease in cats and respiratory disease in horses. A correct diagnosis is beneficial since the use of specific antimycoplasmal treatment can lead to resolution. The objective of the present study was to develop a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method based on dual-labeled fluorogenic probe technology, targeting the gene encoding elongation factor Tu (tuf), for the fast and specific detection of M. felis. Specificity was achieved by basing the assay design on partial sequencing of the tuf gene in strains and clinical isolates of M. felis as well as other mycoplasma species. The detection limit of the developed assay was in the order of 10 copies of target DNA, and no cross-reaction was observed with a panel of several mycoplasma species. Compared to a previously published conventional PCR protocol, the novel assay had equal or slightly improved performance in terms of sensitivity and specificity when analyzing 100 conjunctival swab samples from cats with clinical signs of infection.