DIFFERENT METHODS FOR ASSESSING FELINE BLOOD TYPES AND FREQUENCY OF AB GROUP SYSTEM IN NORTHERN ITALY

OBJECTIVES:An increased interest in the hematological and immune hematological peculiarities of blood groups in the feline species has recently developed.We want to compare gel column agglutination and card agglutination methods for feline blood-typing, to determine the frequency distribution of feline blood types in northern Italy and finally to identify the frequency of blood type in Ragdoll cats. METHODS:Blood-typing was performed on 120 cats using both a commercial gel column containing monoclonal antibodies (ID Gel-Test Micro Typing System) and a card agglutination method (RapidVet-H Feline). Results were confirmed with back-typing. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated for the 2 methods. A second group of 140 Domestic Shorthair (DSH) cats was blood-typed using the gel column technique to determine the frequency distribution of feline blood types in northern Italy.A third group of 61 healthy and not anemic pedigree Ragdoll cats from catteries located in northern Italy originates from Italy (35 cats), USA (13 cats), the Netherlands (eight cats), Canada (two cats), United Kingdom (one cat), Denmark (one cat) and Romania (one cat) were blood typing using a gel column agglutination assay and back typing technique. RESULT: The card agglutination method demonstrated poor sensitivity in identification of type-AB cats (61%) and was only 95% specific when identifying type-B cats. The gel column agglutination technique demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity for typing all 3 blood types (A, B, and AB). The frequency distribution study of 140 cats demonstrated that 127 (90.7%) cats were type A, 10 (7.1%) were type B, and 3 (2.1%) were type AB. Conclusion: When blood-typing cats of breeds with a relatively high frequency of blood types B and AB, methods that use monoclonal antibodies for detection of blood types B and AB are recommended. Alternatively, blood type can be confirmed by more sensitive supplemental testing, such as back-typing. The high frequency of blood type A in DSH cats in northern Italy was comparable to previously reported frequencies in Italy and world-wide.