title: Xenotransfusion of anemic cats with blood compatibility issues: pre- and posttransfusion laboratory diagnostic and crossmatching studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Finding compatible feline blood donors can be challenging. Canine blood has been occasionally used when compatible feline blood was not available in emergency situations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study goals were to describe the effects of xenotransfusion in 2 anemic cats receiving canine blood because of discordant blood types and acute transfusion reaction, respectively, and to report in vitro heterotyping and crossmatching results between canine and feline blood samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples from patients and other cats and dogs were typed, crossmatched, and assessed for alloantibodies using gel, card, and immunochromatographic strip techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cat 1 was found to have type AB blood. Cat 2, which experienced an acute transfusion reaction, had type A blood. Neither had detectable alloantibodies against feline RBC. Both cats transiently improved after transfusion with canine blood; however, acute intravascular hemolysis occurred and the PCV rapidly declined. Blood typing post xenotransfusion with DEA 1 strips revealed a positive control band that was absent in feline blood, thus allowing for the identification of transfused canine RBC. Longitudinal assessment revealed that canine RBC could no longer be detected 4 days after xenotransfusion. Major crossmatching (feline plasma with canine RBC) resulted in both positive and negative reactions, depending on the cat. Minor crossmatching results showed mostly incompatibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While both cats survived xenotransfusion, the positive control band on the DEA 1 strip revealed that transfused canine RBC were short-lived and intravascular hemolysis occurred. Crossmatch results between cats and dogs showed varied incompatibilities and may not predict transfusion reactions.
authors.affiliation: Section of Medical Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Catharina C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Euler
authors.affiliation: Section of Medical Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Karthik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.affiliation: Section of Medical Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Keijiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mizukami
authors.affiliation: ASPCA Animal Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Chi-Ya
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mackin
authors.affiliation: Section of Medical Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Giger
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001782:Blood Donors; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching / Q000662:veterinary*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D002415:Cats / Q000097:blood*; D004285:Dogs / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D065227:Transfusion Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: Blood typing; crossmatch; feline; hemolysis; transfusion reaction