Feline blood genotyping versus phenotyping, and detection of non-AB blood type incompatibilities in UK cats.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the agreement between AB blood phenotyping and genotyping and determine whether non-AB blood type incompatibilities exist in UK cats.


METHODS
Blood samples underwent phenotyping (A, B or AB) using microplate agglutination, and genotyping (AA, Ab or bb) using pyrosequencing of a fragment of the cytidine monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase gene. Non-AB blood type incompatibilities were investigated by cross-matching against reference blood of the same phenotype.


RESULTS
Of 112 cats tested, 86 (77%) were blood phenotype A, 19 (17%) type B and 7 (6%) type AB. Genotype and initial phenotype agreed in 96% (107 of 112) of cats, but 5 were discordant; these were all B phenotype with either AA (n=2) or Ab (n=3) genotype. Two of the five cats had repeat blood samples tested: one was reclassified as phenotype A; the other remained phenotype B. Two cats had incompatibilities on minor cross-match, but these were attributed to phenotyping errors.


CONCLUSIONS
Unknown mutation(s) associated with phenotype B, resulting in false AA or Ab genotyping, were evident in a small number of cases in this study. No conclusive evidence for non-AB blood type incompatibilities was found.
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D000818:Animals; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D002415:Cats / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D006113:United Kingdom
D001789:Blood Group Antigens