Abstract
Domestic cats descended from the African wildcat several thousand years ago. Cats have spread to all parts of the world, probably along routes between civilizations or geographical boundaries, leading to the movement of species, from Asia to the African continent through the Mediterranean basin, and finally to the American continent, Australia, and New Zealand. Currently, 73 cat breeds are recognized by the International Cat Association. With the increasing interest in the selection of breeds, the determination of blood groups in cats has acquired importance over time. The AB blood group system is the most important blood system in cats, in which A, B, and AB or C blood groups are identified. This systematic review describes data from previously published reports about cat blood types and cat breeds. After applying specific criteria, 28 eligible studies were identified in which the prevalence percentages for each blood group in correlation with specific cat breeds were reported. The breeds were, in turn, divided into four groups according to their geographic and phylogenetic origins as follows: Asian cat breeds, American cat breeds, European cat breeds, and breeds from Oceania. Although numerous studies were carried out before 2021, gaps in the literature on the AB system and, in particular, the Mik group are highlighted.
Highlights
Over the centuries, numerous breeds have been identified in the cat “species”, grouped according to the International Cat Association, which recognizes 73 breeds [1]
Blood type A was associated with a high incidence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection; blood type B and AB are associated with increased incidence of tuberculosis, gonorrhea, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Salmonella, and E. coli infections [6]
Domestic cats have their origins in Old World wildcats
Summary
Numerous breeds have been identified in the cat “species”, grouped according to the International Cat Association, which recognizes 73 breeds [1]. Genetic differences have been analyzed in the worldwide cat population showing differences in mitochondrial DNA [3] and single nucleotide polymorphisms [4] In accordance with these results, the prevalence of blood groups varies among feline breeds and among phylogenetic origin [5]. Studies showed that blood type O predisposes patients to gastrointestinal infections such as Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae [7,8] This blood type showed higher susceptibility to peptic ulcers correlated with Helicobacter pylori infection [7,9], and Helicobacter pylori attachment to the human gastric mucosa was mediated by specific fucosylated antigens [7,9]. Blood type A was associated with a high incidence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection; blood type B and AB are associated with increased incidence of tuberculosis, gonorrhea, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Salmonella, and E. coli infections [6]
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