Transfusion has taken an increasingly important role in the life support of canine and feline patients. Thus, the need for quick and accurate blood typing has now been recognized in order to assure safe and efficient transfusions.It is now essential to perform blood typing to save animal lives in cases of; traumatic shock, surgical procedures, iron deficiency, spleen injury, severe bleeding after diseases and shock, some infectious diseases, hypoproteinemia, severe anemia and acute hemolysis syndrome. So far, there are more than a dozen blood groups described in dogs. The major and most immunogenic is DEA 1 (Dog Erythrocyte Antigen), for which a dog can be either positive or negative. Other blood groups include DEA 3, DEA 4, DEA 5, DEA 7 and recently, a new antigen has been discovered in some Dalmatians, the DAL antigen
Feline Blood Typing A, B, AB
In Cats the only blood group system recognized is the AB system with the alleles A, B or AB. These alleles are highly immunogenic. The most common is the A group. There are breeds and geographic regions in which the percentage of B and AB groups is more represented. Recently, a new antigen has been described, the Mik antigen.
Feline Blood Cross Matching
A major crossmatch tests for detectible naturally occurring or induced antibodies in the recipient serum against donor erythrocytes. This testing should be done any time a patient is likely to have relevant naturally occurring antibodies.
A minor crossmatch tests if detectible antibodies are present in the donor plasma or serum against the patient erythrocytes.
Equine Blood Typing & Cross Matching
In horses, there are 7 main blood group systems (A,C,D,K,P,Q,U) with greater than 30 red blood cell factors. Of these, Ca seems to be one of the most immunogenic (causing allo-immunization) antigens.
