Hemolytic mycoplasma species are mycoplasma causing a hemolytic disease in animals. Rarely they can infect humans.
Hemolytic mycoplasma were formerly classified as Eperythrozoon or Haemobartonella species.
Hemolytic mycoplasmas include:
(1) Candidatus Mycoplasma haemohominis
(2) Mycoplasma haemormuris
(3) Mycoplasma suis
(4) Mycoplasma haemofelis
Patients at increased risk:
(1) immunocompromised
(2) close contact with animals
(3) living in or travelling to a region with an endemic hemolytic mycoplasma
Immunocompetent patients may develop an asymptomatic bacteremia.
Immunocompromised patients may develop:
(1) symptomatic bacteremia with fever
(2) autoimmune hemolytic anemia, which can be fatal
(3) splenomegaly
(4) weight loss
