FELINE NEONATAL ISOERYTHROLYSIS AND TRANS FUSION REACTIONS

The feline blood-group system embraces three blood types: TYPe A which occurs most frequently, Type B which frequency largely varies it depe nds from the race, and the extremely seldom Type AB. The allele A is d ominantly transmitted by the allele B, and the blood type AB is transm itted separately. Cats have naturally occuring isoantibodies, especial ly Type B cats have very strong anti A antibodies which are clinically responsible for two incompatibility reactions. Feline neonatal isoery throlysis occurs in type A puppies of cats with blood type B. A-B inco mpatible transfusions are not efficient and lead above all to severe a cute haemolytic reactions. These incompatibility reactions can be prev ented by a preceding blood-typing or blood-cross-test. Only A-B compat ible blood may be transfused and cats with blood type B should only be mated with type B tomcats.