Ciencia y tecnología veterinaria

A Survey of blood types of the Domestic cat (Felis catus) in Maiduguri, North-eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Bukar-Kolo Yachilla Maryam, Balami Arhyel Gana, Geidam Yaqub Ahmed, Wakil M Abubakar, Shuibu Istifanus

A haematological study was carried out in domestic cats native to Nigeria, in Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria. The aim was to determine the blood types in this specie (AB blood system) using the CHROM method which is based on immunochromatograhic diffusion of RBC’s passing through monoclonal antibody containing strips (Alvedia Quick test kit). Fifty cats were sampled and analysed. The result showed that cats with blood type A were the most common with a rate of 44/50(88%), followed by type B 6/50 (12%). Of all the cats sampled, none had blood type AB. This study documents the first record of blood types in cats in Nigeria. The knowledge of the blood group of the domestic cats has significant clinical implications in terms of transfusion medicine as well as for breeding purposes.