Survey of feline blood types in the Barcelona area of Spain

IN 1981, a blood group system was identified in cats consisting of three blood types (A, B and AB), with type A being by far the most common blood group (Auer and Bell 1981). The proportion of type B cats varies among feline breeds in different geographical regions, and cats with type AB are rare. The titres of anti-A isoagglutinins in virtually all type B cats older than three months are high. Approximately one third of type A cats have weak antibodies to type B cells (macroscopic agglutinins and haemolysins) (Giger and others 1989, Giger and Bucheler 1991). These naturally occurring antibodies are responsible for some undesirable transfusion reactions, including antibody-mediated destruction of transfused red cells. In addition, type A or type AB kittens born to type B queens are at risk of neonatal isoerythrolysis due to the antiA antibodies present in the mother's colostrum. The presence of naturally occurring antibodies to blood group antigens in the cat is clinically significant and may result in ineffective transfusion or severe transfusion reactions (Knottenbelt 2002). There are many reports of the prevalence of feline blood types in the UK, the USA, Germany, France, Italy, Finland, Hungary and many other countries. This short communication describes the distribution ofblood types in a population of non-pedigree cats presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain. The study also looked for the presence of isoagglutinins using a crossmatch reaction that is feasible for use in clinical practice. Blood samples in EDTA were collected from 100 nonpedigree cats (54 males and 46 females) between November 1999 and June 2000 and stored at 4°C until blood typing was performed. None of the cats had previously received a tranfusion. The samples were blood typed using commercial cards (Rapid-Vet-H [feline]; DMS Laboratories) and an autoagglutination control with saline was performed in all samples in order to detect false positive reactions. A major crossmatch reaction was performed following the technique described by Norsworthy (1992) to test for alloantibodies in the recipient's plasma against donor cells. The donor erythrocyte sources were one healthy type A male cat and one healthy type B male cat. Erythrocytes were separated from the plasma by centrifugation for 10 minutes at 3000 rpm. After three washes and repeat centrifugation, the red blood cells were resuspended in saline to a concentration of 4 per cent red blood cells. One drop of recipient plasma and one drop of donor red blood cell suspension