Blood types

Introduction

• In cats there is a well-established A-B blood group system based on naturally occurring alloantibodies, which has important clinical implications.
• A-B blood group system is inherited via two alleles at the same gene locus in a simple dominant form, the allele for group A being dominant over that for group B.
• Cats expressing the group A phenotype (Type A cats) are either a homozygous (A/A) or heterozygous (A/B) genotype.
• Cats expressing the group B phenotype (Type B cats) are invariably homozygous for the B allele (B/B).
• A very small proportion of cats (<1%) have been identified that express both A and B antigens on the erythrocyte membrane, ie are of AB phenotype (Type AB). Blood type AB is inherited separately as a third allele that is recessive to the A allele but codominant to the B allele.
• Recently a group in the USA reported a non-A-B blood group system, based on a novel feline erythrocyte antigen named Mik.

Sources

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed .
• Forcada Y, Guitian J & Gibson G (2007) Frequencies of feline blood types at a referral hospital in the south east of England. JSAP 58 , 570-573 PubMed .
• Weinstein N M, Blais M C, Harris K, Oakley D A, Aronson I R & Giger U (2007) A newly recognized blood group in domestic shorthair cats: the Mik red cell antigen. JVIM 21 , 287-292 PubMed .
• Knottenbelt CM (2002) The feline AB blood group system and its importance in transfusion medicine . J Feline Med Surg . 4 (2), 69-76.
• Knottenbelt CM, Day MJ, Cripps PJ, Mackin AJ (1999) Measurement of titers of naturally occurring alloantibodies against feline blood group antigens in the UK. JSAP 40 , 365-370.
• Knottenbelt CM, Addie DD, Day MJ, Mackin AJ (1999) Determination of the prevalence of feline blood types in the UK. JSAP 40 , 115-118.
• Lubas G & Continanza R (1995) Recent advances in our understanding of the immunohaematological characteristics of cats and their clinical application. EJCAP 5 , 47-54.
• Giger U, Bucheler J & Patterson D F (1991a) Frequency and inheritance of A and B blood types in feline breeds of the United States. Journal of Heredity 82 , 15-20.
• Giger U, Griot-Wenk M, Bucheler J, Smith S & Diserens D (1991b) Geographical variation of the feline blood type frequencies in the United States. Feline Practice 19 , 21-27.
• Giger U, Kilrain C G, Filippich L J & Bell K (1989) Frequencies of feline blood groups in the United States. JAVMA 195 , 1230-1232.

Other sources of information

• Wardrop K J (2001) Transfusion medicine. In: Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine 4. August J R (ed), pp 461-467.
• Giger U (1992) The feline AB blood group-system and incompatibility reactions. In Current Veterinary Therapy XI Kirk R W & Bonagura J D (eds). Philadelphia: W B Saunders, pp. 470-474.