Mycoplasma species are common inhabitants of the feline oral cavity, and so likely contaminate many cat
bite abscesses. The objectives of this study were to determine whether Mycoplasma species are common contaminants of cat
bite abscesses and whether they are are associated with β-
lactam-resistant clinical disease. Twenty-six privately owned cats with clinical evidence of an
abscess suspected to be from a cat
bite were included in the study. Samples from each cat were evaluated by aerobic and anaerobic culture, as well as Mycoplasma species culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All cats were initially treated with appropriate
wound management and were administered an
antibiotic of the β-
lactam class (
amoxicillin,
amoxicillin clavulanate or
cefovecin sodium). Mycoplasma species
DNA was amplified by PCR from 4/26 samples (15.4%); one of these cases was concurrently culture positive. Adequate
DNA for sequencing was present for 2/4 positive PCR samples; one was most homologous with Mycoplasma felis, and the other was most homologous with Mycoplasma equigenitalium and Mycoplasma elephantis. Of the 26 cats, 25 responded to the initial treatment by day 7. The cat that failed initial treatment was positive for M equigenitalium or M elephantis
DNA on days 0 and 12, and ultimately responded to administration of
enrofloxacin and
clindamycin. The results suggest that while Mycoplasma species can contaminate cat
bite abscesses, routine
wound management and β-
lactam antibiotic therapy is adequate for treatment in most cases of
abscess. However, as Mycoplasma species
infections do not respond to β-
lactam class
antibiotic therapy, these organisms should be on the differential list for cats with
abscesses that fail treatment with this
antibiotic class.