Homologous blood transfusion in dogs with and without heartworm infection

Abstract

Morphine-pentobarbitalized dogs were transfused with homologous whole blood, and both recipient and donor dogs were examined for microfilariae and heartworms. None of the 33 dogs transfused had a fall in blood pressure, and the only detectable reaction to the homologous blood was the development of urticaria in 54% of the recipients. There was no relationship between heartworm infection and the development of urticaria. Also, handling of the blood did not enhance the development of urticaria in the experiment reported here. Further, urticaria developed in a dog receiving a transfusion by an intima-to-intima arteriovenous anastomosis. When the blood from the same donor was transfused into two recipients, one developed urticaria and the other did not, suggesting that urticaria was a result of innate differences between the plasmas of recipient and donor dogs. When a heartworm extract was injected to a group of dogs, most of them had a fall in blood pressure; however, the fall in pressure was not related to the D. immitis infection. Naturally occurring antibodies in the blood of the dog against the water-soluble fraction of a heartworm antigen could not be demonstrated.