Feline red blood cell groups detected by naturally occurring isoantibody.

Abstract

Naturally occurring anti-Ca and anti-Cb isoantibodies that can be used for judging red blood cell groups were detected in the plasma of cats. Anti-Ca antibodies were observed in 66.7% of the plasma of the Cb(+) type cat, and anti-Cb antibodies in 27.3% of the Ca(+) type cat plasma. The agglutinin titers of anti-Ca and anti-Cb plasma were 1:64 to :128 and 1:2 or lower, but hemolysis was not seen with anti-Cb plasma. There was no relationship between the change in these titers and the season. Anti-Ca was seen in the IgM fraction. The Ca(+) type was seen in 99.0%, the Ca(-) type in 1.0%, the Cb(+) type in 10.7%, and the Cb(-) type in 89.3% of the 299 cats examined. Combining the red blood cell types, the Ca(+)Cb(-) type was observed in 89.3%, Ca(-)Cb(+) type in 1.0%, Ca(+)Cb(+) type in 9.7% of the cats, but the Ca(-)Cb(-) type was not found. There was no relationship between sex, or the breed and the red blood cell groups. The percentage of cats with agglutinin in the plasma reacting to the Ca(+) type and red cells tended to be higher with age.