Frequencies of feline blood types at a referral hospital in the south east of England

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of blood types in the feline patients and blood donors of the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals (The Royal Veterinary College, London, UK), that were typed between 2000 and 2004. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed using files of patients and blood donors of the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals seen between January 2000 and November 2004. Commercial blood typing cards were used to determine the blood type. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-six cats were included in the study; 51 (32.7 per cent) were pedigree and 105 (67.3 per cent) non-pedigree. Of the 51 pedigree cats, the prevalence of blood types was as follows: type A, 42 (82.4 per cent); type B, seven (13.7 per cent) and type AB, two (3.9 per cent). Of the 105 non-pedigree cats, the prevalence of blood types was as follows: type A, 71 (67.6 per cent); type B 32 (30.5 per cent) and type AB two (1.9 per cent). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The prevalence of type B blood in non-pedigree cats is higher than previously suggested and shows high variability within the UK; because of this, blood typing all feline patients, not only the ones of a breed typically known to have higher prevalence of type B blood before transfusion, is absolutely necessary to avoid a fatal transfusion reaction.