Veterinary Clinical Medicine-I (General and Systemic)

BLOOD TYPING 

• The feline AB blood group system consists of three blood types: type A, type B, and type AB. All type B cats have strong alloantibodies against type red blood cells. Type A cats have weak but potent antiB alloantibodies in terms of the life expectancy of transfused type B cells. These alloantibodies are responsible for transfusion reactions and neonatal isoerythrolysis in cats and can be detected by crossmatch procedures. Feline patients receiving blood products should receive donor products of the same blood type as the patient and... have had crossmatch testing which indicates compatibility. Cats with the rare AB blood type should receive AB blood (often quite difficult to obtain) or type A blood which is compatible or only slightly incompatible in the minor crossmatch. There are no feline "universal" donors.
• A simple "in-house" card test for feline red cell antigens A, B, and AB and canine DEA 1.1 has The dog has eight different blood types identified as dog erythrocyte antigens (DEA) 1.1, 1.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. The use of DEA 1.1 and 1.2 positive blood products that are crossmatch incompatible may cause hemolysis. Controversy exists as to whether DEA 7 is an important determinant in canine transfusion reactions. Ideally canine blood negative for DEA 1.1, 1.2 and 7 should be used as it conforms with the concept of "universal" donor blood. In random source, first time canine transfusion of non-crossmatched or typed blood the transfusion reaction rate is approximately fifteen percent. Again, transfusion reaction indicates that the materials transfused are not effective and are causing a physiologic burden on an already burdened patient--reasons to blood type and crossmatch. Recently there has been suggestions that the only significant canine antigen is DEA 1.1. Donors blood products negative for DEA 1.1 that are crossmatch compatible have a much reduced chance of transfusion reaction. Recently, card tests to detect feline blood types A, B, and AB and canine blood type 1.1 have become available.