MLBA 15: June / July 2010
Antibodies to actin in autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
Haemotrophic mycoplasma infections are found in a wide range of domestic and wild animals causing acute haemolytic anaemia or chronic anaemia with immune suppression. Generally, they show distinct host specificity. However, there are reports of humans infected with haemotrophic mycoplasmas, i.e. Mycoplasma haemofelis and Mycoplasma suis. M. suis causes infectious anaemia in pigs (IAP).
Two forms of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) have been described: warm AIHA, which is characterised by auto-reactive IgG antibodies binding their target epitope at body temperature, and cold AIHA.
Mixed AIHA has been found in M. suis-induced IAP. Cold IgM agglutinins targeting glycoproteins on the red blood cells were observed. These cold agglutinins occur about four weeks after experimental infection with M. suis. During the acute stage of IAP (clinical attack), acute anaemia, hypoglycaemia and icteroanaemia accompanied by high mortality occur.
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