Alloantibodies against A and B blood types in cats

Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 1993 Oct;38(3-4):283-95. doi: 10.1016/0165-2427(93)90088-l.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • ABO Blood-Group System / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn / immunology
  • Cats / blood*
  • Colostrum / immunology
  • Erythrocytes / immunology
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulin G / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin M / analysis
  • Isoantibodies / analysis*
  • Male

Substances

  • ABO Blood-Group System
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Isoantibodies