'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum', a low-virulence epierythrocytic parasite of cats.

The phylogenetic position and some taxonomically relevant characteristics of a small, low-virulence bacterial parasite of cats are described. A 16S rDNA analysis revealed that the organism was in the Mycoplasma clade and was most closely related to a parasite of pigs previously designated Eperythrozoon suis. As the organism has not been cultured in vitro and is maintained in serial passage in cats in vivo, Candidatus status is proposed for this novel taxon as 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum'.