Alloantibodies against A and B blood types in cats.
This study characterizes the naturally occurring feline alloantibodies against A and B blood type. All examined type-A and type-B cats had naturally occurring antibodies against erythrocytes of the opposite blood type. In order to determine the class of immunoglobulins, sera from cats were analyzed using incubation with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME), immunoprecipitation, and gel filtration. Type-A cats had weak agglutinins of the IgM class and weak hemolysins which consisted of approximately equal parts of IgG and IgM class. Type-B cats had strong hemagglutinins and hemolysins mostly of the IgM class. Colostral antibodies were detectable in newborns as early as 4 h after birth and their own alloantibody production started at 6-8 weeks of age. The presence of naturally occurring alloantibodies, in particular the anti-A alloantibodies, renders cats susceptible to clinical incompatibility reactions.
Bücheler
J
J
Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6010.
Giger
U
U
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000276:immunology; D002415:Cats / Q000097:blood*; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007518:Isoantibodies