SUBMISSION FORMS AND TEST PRICES FOR OWNERS AND BREEDERS
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We can now offer the cat blood type genetic test.
Please note: the test has not been fully validated in the Ragdoll and Turkish Angora breeds. In some animals results from DNA testing and conventional blood typing are not concordant.
The test has been validated for domestic cat breeds only. The accuracy of results for wildcats and hybrids (Servals, Bengals, Chaussies) has not been determined.
Background to cat blood types
Cats have one common blood group system with two main blood types; A and B, and a much rarer "AB" blood type. The genetic basis of the A and B blood types has recently been elucidated; mutations in the cytidine momophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase gene (CMAH) disrupt its enzymatic activity resulting in blood type B.
- Blood type A cats usually have naturally occurring, low titre antibodies
to type B blood - Blood type B cats usually have naturally occurring, high titre antibodies
to type A blood
The presence of naturally occurring (i.e. without the need for a previous blood transfusion), high titre antibodies to type A blood in type B cats can cause neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI). This can occur when a type B queen is bred to a type A tom. Any type A kittens produced from the mating will absorb the anti-type A antibodies in their mother's colostrum during the first day of life, and these antibodies can mediate haemolysis of the kitten's type A red blood cells, which can be lethal. The number of kittens affected will depend on the genotype of the type A tom. If the male is pure type A (homozygous A/A), then all of the kittens will also be type A (heterozygous A/b) and therefore at risk of NI. If the type A tom is heterozygous type A and therefore a carrier of the b allele (A/b), then about half the kittens will be type A (A/b) and at risk of NI; the remaining half will be type B (b/b) and not at risk of NI. Severity of disease with NI will also depend on the amount and nature of the antibodies absorbed by the kitten; large amounts of highly agglutinating antibodies will cause the most severe disease
The following nomenclature is used to define blood types:
- A for blood type A
- a for blood type AB
- b for blood type B
Blood type A is dominant to B. Cats with type A can be A/A, A/a or A/b and cats with type B are always b/b. Blood type A is common among cats but the frequency varies significantly by breed and geographic location. Breeds that do not have the b allele are Siamese, Burmese, Russian Blue, Ocicat and Oriental Shorthair. Breeds with high incidence (up to 60%) of the b allele are Exotics, British Shorthair, Cornish Rex and Devon Rex.
Please note: the rare AB blood type is not the result of the presence of the A and B blood types, it is a separate blood type reported to be present in less than 1% of cats. The genetics of blood type AB are not well understood.
Blood type genetic test
The genetic test for cat blood types identifies the recessive b allele that is associated with type B blood. Cats with two copies of the b allele have type B blood. Cats with only one copy of the b allele can be type A or the rare blood type AB. The genetic test cannot distinguish between blood type A and type AB.
Dr. Leslie Lyons' laboratory at UC Davis, USA originally discovered the mutations in the CMAH gene associated with B blood type. More recently we have identified a further mutation that appears to be linked to the b allele, and therefore blood type B in cats. This mutation is rare, but has been observed in cats from both the UK and USA.
Our genetic test targets both the original and new mutations in the CMAH gene that result in blood type B.
Interpretation of results
| Genetic result | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Blood type A or AB (Does not carry b) | Blood type A or AB |
| Blood type A or AB (Carrier of b) | Carrier of the b allele; Blood type A or AB |
| Blood type B (Homozygous b) | Blood type B |
Further information