Evaluating the association between blood genotype, phenotype and hemoplasma infection in UK and Italian cats
In humans, blood groups are associated with varying prevalence of infections. The aim of this study was to determine if associations exist between the feline AB blood group system and hemoplasma infection.
Data from two studies were combined. In the first study, DNA samples from 131 hemoplasma-infected and 132 hemoplasma-uninfected UK cats underwent pyrosequencing to determine their blood genotype as AA, Ab or bb. In the second study, blood samples from 160 Italian cats of known blood phenotype A, B or AB underwent PCR testing for feline hemoplasma species DNA.
Results showed that hemoplasma infection was demonstrated in cats of all phenotypes and genotypes. A significantly higher number of Ab genotype cats tested positive for overall hemoplasma infection status (p = 0.04) and for Mycoplasma haemofelis infection (p = 0.03).
In conclusion, feline hemoplasmas do not appear to preferentially use either blood type A or B antigens as attachment sites for erythrocyte colonization. Further investigations in a larger number of hemoplasma-infected cats of known blood phenotype are warranted to explain the association between genotype Ab and hemoplasma infection.
Eva Spada, et al. “Evaluating the association between blood genotype or phenotype and haemoplasma infection in UK and Italian cats.” Vet Rec. 2022 Oct 12; e2282. doi: 10.1002/vetr.2282.
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