title: Blood transfusion in cats: ABCD guidelines for minimising risks of infectious iatrogenic complications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The availability of blood components has increased the number of indications for transfusing cats, and fresh whole blood is readily accessible to clinicians because it can be taken from in-house donor cats or 'volunteer' feline blood donors. A certain amount of risk remains to the recipient cat, as immediate or delayed adverse reactions can occur during or after transfusion, related to immunemediated mechanisms. This article, however, focuses on adverse events caused by infectious agents, which may originate either from contamination of blood following incorrect collection, storage or transfusion, or from transfusion of contaminated blood obtained from an infected donor.
  In cats, blood cannot be collected through a closed system and, therefore, collection of donor blood requires a multi-step manipulation of syringes and other devices. It is crucial that each step of the procedure is performed under the strictest aseptic conditions and that bacterial contamination of blood bags is prevented, as bacterial endotoxins can cause an immediate febrile reaction or even fatal shock in the recipient cat.
  With a view to preventing transmission of blood-borne infectious diseases, the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine has adopted basic criteria for selecting pathogens to be tested for in donor pets. The worldwide core screening panel for donor cats includes feline leukaemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, Bartonella species and feline haemoplasma. The list should be adapted to the local epidemiological situation concerning other vector-borne feline infections. The most practical, rapid and inexpensive measure to reduce transfusion risk is to check the risk profile of donor cats on the basis of a written questionnaire. Blood transfusion can never, however, be considered entirely safe.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pennisi
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Diane D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Addie
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gruffydd-Jones
authors.forename: Corine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boucraut-Baralon
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Egberink
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frymus
authors.forename: Marian C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Horzinek
authors.forename: Margaret J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hosie
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lloret
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marsilio
authors.forename: Alan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Radford
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thiry
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Truyen
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Möstl
mesh_terms: D000827:Animal Welfare / Q000592:standards; D000818:Animals; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002415:Cats; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000662:veterinary*; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000592:standards