Frequencies of feline blood types in the Rio de Janeiro area of Brazil.
BACKGROUND
The distribution and frequency of blood types in cat populations vary according to geographic region and breed. Frequencies of feline blood types in Rio de Janeiro city, as well as in other Brazilian areas, are unknown, and the risk of unmatched transfusions and neonatal isoerythrolysis has not been estimated.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of feline blood types in the area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.


METHODS
EDTA blood samples were obtained from 172 nonpedigreed domestic shorthair (DSH) cats (92 female, 80 male, 3 months-20 years old) in different sites of Rio de Janeiro city. Blood typing was performed by agglutination assays using Triticum vulgaris lectin and feline anti-A serum. The hemagglutination results for type B and AB cats were confirmed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) of erythrocyte membrane gangliosides.


RESULTS
The majority (163/172, 94.8%) of cats were type A, 2.9% were type B, and 2.3% were type AB. High-titer anti-A serum agglutinated RBCs from all cats in type A and type AB blood groups, with 3+ to 4+ agglutination. The probability that a type A cat would receive type B or AB blood in a first random transfusion was calculated as 2.25% and 2.20%, respectively. HPTLC analysis of glycolipids yielded a chromatographic profile characteristic of feline gangliosides for all blood groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate a high prevalence of type A cats in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and a low frequency of type B and AB cats, consistent with what has been observed for DSH cats in other regions of the world.
Medeiros
Miguel A S
MA
Department of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazi. someve@gmail.com
Soares
Ana Maria
AM
Alviano
Daniela S
DS
Ejzemberg
Regina
R
da Silva
Maria Helena
MH
Almosny
Nádia Regina
NR