Reactivity of lectins with feline erythrocytes

Blood groups A, B and AB of cats (not related to human blood groups) are defined serologically with feline antisera. Five cats were blood typed and used in this study. Three cats were type B; two were type A. Two per cent suspensions of red blood cells (RBCs) from each cat were prepared and used in agglutination tests with 11 commercial lectins. Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins of non-immune origin. Most of these lectins agglutinated either all or none of the five samples of RBCs. However, wheat germ lectin (WGL) strongly agglutinated feline type B RBCs, but did not agglutinate type A RBCs. Thus WGL may be useful in feline blood typing, especially because the naturally occurring anti-B isoagglutinin is of low incidence and low titre.