FREQUENCY OF BLOOD GROUPS AND TITERS OF ALLOANTIBODIES IN DOMESTIC CATS

Abstract

Hemotherapy requires reliable blood compatibility tests, such as blood typing, to avoid possible transfusion reactions in cats. However, it is also important to avoid neonatal isoerythrolysis. When blood transfusions are performed between incompatible feline donors and recipients, they may develop acute transfusion reactions, especially severe when type A blood is transfused into a type B cat because it has high levels of anti-A alloantibodies. Therefore, knowing on the blood type frequency in feline population of some region can help to determine the transfusion reaction risks and the occurrence of neonatal isoerythrolysis. Addicionally, such risks may be prevented through blood typing, in cases of transfusion. One hundred feline blood samples were collected and anti-A and anti-B blood reagent typing tests were performed, plus titration of alloantibodies of stored plasma. These tests showed a 96% frequency of type A blood and only 4% of type B blood among tested cats. We did not find any AB type blood cat. There is a great risk of adverse reactions after random blood transfusions between non-typed cats.

Keywords:
blood typing; cats; immunohematology; transfusion medicine