Evaluating the association between blood genotype or phenotype and haemoplasma infection in UK and Italian cats

Abstract

Background: 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 haemoplasma infection. Methods: Data from two studies were combined. In the first study, DNA samples from 131 haemoplasma-infected and 132 haemoplasma-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 haemoplasma species DNA.Results: Haemoplasma infection was demonstrated in cats of all phenotypes and genotypes. A significantly higher number of Ab genotype cats tested positive for overall haemoplasma infection status (p = 0.04) and for Mycoplasma haemofelis infection (p = 0.03). Limitations: Haemoplasma-infected Italian cats were few, possibly increasing the chance of type II error, and the presence of purebred cats in the sample population may have had a confounding effect. Conclusions: Feline haemoplasmas do not appear to preferentially use either blood type A or B antigens as attachment sites for erythrocyte colonisation. Further investigations in a larger number of haemoplasma-infected cats of known blood phenotype are warranted to explain the association between genotype Ab and haemoplasma infection.

Prevalence of Hemoplasma spp. positivity in potential feline blood donors and study of the association with selected clinical variables

“…Male gender, adult age, nonpedigree breed, outdoor access, blood genotype and coinfection with FIV and/or FeLV are associated with hemoplasmas positivity with conflicting results for some variables. 2 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 In the present study, a significant association was found for male gender and for FeLV positivity with Hemoplasma spp. qPCR positivity.…”

“…Male sex, adult age, nonpedigree breed, outdoor access, blood genotype, and coinfection with retroviruses (feline immunodeficiency virus [FIV] and/or feline leukemia virus [FeLV]) are associated with Hemoplasma spp. PCR positivity 2,8‐20 . Hemoplasma spp.…”

“…PCR positivity. 2 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 Hemoplasma spp. prevalence is higher during the warmer months of the year in some studies.…”