title: Activity, specificity, and titer of naturally occurring canine anti-DEA 7 antibodies.
abstract: The reported prevalence of naturally occurring anti-dog erythrocyte antigen (DEA) 7 antibodies in DEA 7-negative dogs is as high as 50%. Characterization of these antibodies may better define their importance in canine transfusion medicine. We determined in vitro activity, specificity, and titer of anti-DEA 7 antibodies in DEA 7-negative dogs. Plasma samples from 317 DEA 7-negative dogs were cross-matched with DEA 7-positive red blood cells (RBCs) using gel column technology. Agglutination occurred with DEA 7-positive RBCs but not with DEA 7-negative RBCs in 73 samples (23%), which were hence classified as containing anti-DEA 7 antibodies. These samples were evaluated for hemolytic and agglutinating activity, strength of agglutination, and antibody specificity and titers. All samples showed agglutination but none showed hemolysis. Gel agglutination was graded as 1+ for 20 samples (27%), 2+ for 49 samples (67%), 3+ for 4 samples (6%); no samples were graded 4+. The agglutination titer was <1:2 for 51 samples (73%), 1:2 for 13 samples (19%), 1:4 for 4 samples (5%), and 1:8 for 2 samples (3%). Of 16 samples treated with 2-mercaptoethanol, 11 samples (69%) contained only IgM, 4 samples (25%) exhibited only IgG activity, and 1 sample (6%) had both IgG and IgM activity. Low titers of warm, weakly agglutinating, mostly naturally occurring IgM anti-DEA 7 antibodies were found in 23% of DEA 7-negative dogs. The presence of naturally occurring anti-DEA 7 antibodies suggests that cross-matching of canine blood recipients is advisable, even at first transfusion, to minimize delayed transfusion reactions.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Transfusion Unit (REV), Department of Veterinary Medicine (DiMeVet), University of Milan, Milan, Italy eva.spada@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spada
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Transfusion Unit (REV), Department of Veterinary Medicine (DiMeVet), University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Proverbio
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Transfusion Unit (REV), Department of Veterinary Medicine (DiMeVet), University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baggiani
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Transfusion Unit (REV), Department of Veterinary Medicine (DiMeVet), University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Canzi
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Transfusion Unit (REV), Department of Veterinary Medicine (DiMeVet), University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perego
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility / Q000662:veterinary*; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching / Q000662:veterinary; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000662:veterinary; D004285:Dogs / Q000276:immunology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001789:Blood Group Antigens
keywords: Alloantibodies; canine transfusion medicine; dog erythrocyte antigen 7