Abstract
Simple SummaryThis study aimed to evaluate the frequency of AB blood groups in non-pedigree domestic cats in Central Italy. The presence of natural alloantibodies in the feline blood group system can cause life-threatening transfusion reactions due to mismatched transfusion and, depending on the parents’ blood type, can also account for hemolytic reactions in newborn kittens. Based on the frequency of the AB blood groups found in the 483 cats studied, a potential risk (6.5%) of acute hemolytic transfusion or neonatal reactions was calculated. Therefore, determining the blood group in non-pedigree domestic cats from Central Italy before transfusion is strongly recommended, as has been reported for other geographical areas. Moreover, particular attention should be paid to the mating of non-purebred cats.Blood transfusion reactions and neonatal isoerythrolysis are common events in the feline population due to the presence of natural alloantibodies in the AB blood group system. It is known that the frequency of feline blood types varies according to the geographic region and breed. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the frequency of AB blood groups in non-pedigree domestic cats in Central Italy and estimate the risk of a life-threatening transfusion reaction and neonatal isoerythrolysis, caused by mismatched transfusion or incompatible random mating, respectively. The AB blood group was determined on non-pedigree domestic feline patients and potential blood donors submitted at the Veterinary Teaching Hospitals of the Universities of Teramo (Abruzzo Region, Teramo, Italy) and Perugia (Umbria Region, Teramo, Italy), and visited at veterinary practitioners in Rome (Lazio Region, Teramo, Italy) using commercial immunochromatographic cartridges and commercial agglutination cards. There were four hundred and eighty-three cats included in the study. The frequencies of the blood types were: 89.9% type A, 7.0% type B, and 3.1% type AB. The probability of an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction or a neonatal isoerythrolysis was 6.5%. Although the frequency of type B in non-pedigree domestic cats living in Central Italy was relatively low, to reduce the risk of fatal transfusion reactions, blood group typing is recommended before each transfusion.
Highlights
The AB blood group system is the main feline erythrocytes antigen system that includes blood types A, B, and the rare AB
Isoagglutinins, a transfusion of type A or type AB blood to a type B recipient or incompatible mating can cause, respectively, very serious acute hemolytic transfusion reactions and neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI) in type A and type AB kittens born from a type B mother [1]
Between January 2016 and October 2019, 483 non-pedigree domestic cats were admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospitals of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Teramo, Abruzzo Region, Italy (VTHT) and of the Department of Veterinary Medicine Perugia, Umbria Region, Italy, (VTHP) and to veterinary practitioners (VP) in Rome, Lazio Region, Italy as potential blood donors following the national guidelines for transfusion medicine [28,29,30,31], or for diagnosing different diseases or vaccinations were included in the survey
Summary
The AB blood group system is the main feline erythrocytes antigen system that includes blood types A, B, and the rare AB. B cats possess naturally occurring alloantibodies against the blood type antigen they lack and type. Type B cats generally have high titers of anti-A isoagglutinins, a transfusion of type A or type AB blood to a type B recipient or incompatible mating can cause, respectively, very serious acute hemolytic transfusion reactions and neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI) in type A and type AB kittens born from a type B mother [1]. It has been seen that Type B and the rare type AB has a high incidence in some feline pure breeds and no incidence in other breeds [8,26,27,28]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
