Abstract
A study was carried out to determine the prevalence of blood group antigen dog erythrocyte antigen (DEA) 1.1 in mixed breed dogs in rural Chinamhora, Zimbabwe. DEA 1.1 is clinically the most important canine blood group as it is the most antigenic blood type; hence, DEA 1.1 antibodies are capable of causing acute haemolytic, potentially life-threatening transfusion reactions. In this study, blood samples were collected from 100 dogs in Chinamhora, and blood typing was carried out using standardised DEA 1.1 typing strips with monoclonal anti–DEA 1.1 antibodies (Alvedia® LAB DEA 1.1 test kits). Polymerase chain reaction for detecting Babesia spp. antigen was carried out on 58 of the samples. Of the 100 dogs, 78% were DEA 1.1 positive and 22% were DEA 1.1 negative. A significantly (p = 0.02) higher proportion of females (90.5%) were DEA 1.1 positive than males (69.0%). The probability of sensitisation of recipient dogs following first-time transfusion of untyped or unmatched blood was 17.2%, and an approximately 3% (2.95%) probability of an acute haemolytic reaction following a second incompatible transfusion was found. Babesia spp. antigen was found in 6.9% of the samples. No significant relationship (χ2 = 0.56, p = 0.45) was found between DEA 1.1 positivity and Babesia spp. antigen presence. Despite a low probability of haemolysis after a second incompatibility transfusion, the risk remains present and should not be ignored. Hence, where possible, blood typing for DEA 1.1 is recommended. A survey of DEA 3, 4, 5 and 7 in various breeds is also recommended.
Highlights
Canine blood groups are genetically attributed characteristics that remain the same throughout an animal’s life (Brown & Vap 2006)
There was no significant association between dog erythrocyte antigen (DEA) 1.1 positivity and the presence of Babesia spp. antigen (χ2 = 0.56, p = 0.45)
This study investigated the prevalence of DEA 1.1 in dogs from Chinamhora, Goromonzi district in Zimbabwe using a laboratory test previously reported to be accurate (Giger et al 2005)
Summary
Canine blood groups are genetically attributed characteristics that remain the same throughout an animal’s life (Brown & Vap 2006). They are phenotypically expressed as proteins or glycoproteins on the erythrocyte surface that is specific to a species and have the ability to elicit an immune response (Giger, Stierger & Palos 2005). DEA 1.1 and DEA 1.2 are the most important antigens (Giger et al 2005; Goggs 2009; Van der Merwe, Jacobson & Pretorius 2002; Vap 2010). The prevalence of DEA 1.1 in the general dog population is estimated at 42% – 46% (Van der Merwe et al 2002); prevalences of up to 80% have been recorded (Madhavan, Manju & Usha 2014)
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