Keynote Message

Cats are typically transfused for anaemia and far less commonly for coagulopathies. The AB blood group system is the major blood group system in cats. Type A is most commonly seen, while the type B frequency varies geographically and among breeds from 0 to 50%. The A allele is dominant over the B allele. Type AB appears to be generated by a separate allele and except for a few geographic areas and Ragdolls appears to be extremely rare. The function of the cytidine monophosphate-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH) is responsible for the three types, albeit at the molecular level there is further heterogeneity. Simple and accurate typing and crossmatch kits are available to assure blood compatibility.

In contrast to canine transfusion therapy, the recruitment of feline donors has been hampered by their small size, occult infectious diseases, and need for sedation. Therefore, xenotransfusions with canine blood have been used, but studies have shown major blood incompatibilities and extremely short survival (<4 days) of transfused canine cells, and, therefore, cannot be recommended.

Key References

1.  Bovens C, Gruffydd-Jones T. Xenotransfusion with canine blood in the feline species: review of the literature. J Feline Med Surg. 2013;15:62–67. DOI: 10.1177/1098612X12460530.

2.  Euler CC, Raj K, Mizukami K, Murray L, Chen CY, Mackin A, Giger U. Xenotransfusion of anemic cats with blood compatibility issues: pre- and posttransfusion laboratory diagnostic and crossmatching studies. Vet Clin Pathol. 2016;45:244–53. DOI: 10.1111/vcp.12366.

3.  Giger U. Blood typing and crossmatching to ensure blood compatibility. In: Bonagura JD, Twedt DC, eds. Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy, XV ed. St. Louis, MO: WB Saunders; 2014: Web Chapter 26:143.

4.  Seth M, Jackson KV, Giger U. Comparison of five blood-typing methods for the feline AB blood group system. Am J Vet Res. 2011;72:203–209. DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.72.2.203.

5.  Hourani L, Weingart C, Kohn B. Alloimmunisation in transfused patients: serial cross-matching in a population of hospitalised cats. J Feline Med Surg. 2017 Jan 1:1098612X16688574. DOI: 10.1177/1098612X16688574.

6.  Omi T, Nakazawa S, Udagawa C, et al. Molecular characterization of the cytidine monophosphate-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH) gene associated with the feline AB blood group system. PLoS One. 2016;11(10):e0165000. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165000.

7.  Goy-Thollot I, Nectous A, Guidetti M, Chaprier B, Bouregois S, Boisvineau C, Barthélemy A, Pouzot-Nevoret C, Giger U. Assessment of the AB blood type and presence of any naturally occurring alloantibodies against red blood cells with 2 typing and 2 crossmatch tests in healthy cats. In preparation.