BLOOD-GROUP-SEROLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS IN CATS IN GERMANY

In blood-typing of 868 cats each animal was to attach to a blood-group antigen of the feline A-B-blood-group system. In doing so the blood-group type A was frequent with 92,6 %, the blood-group type B was seldom with 6,7 % and the blood-group type AB was extremely seldom with 0,7 %. There were significantly sexual- and breed specific blood-group differences in the incidence distribution. The examination of 437 cat sera on the occurence of blood-group antibodies proved 50,6 % antibody carriers whereas cats with the blood-group B were antibody-positive with 92,7 % and animals with blood-group A were positive with 46,9 %. The occurence of blood-group antibodies was highly significant dependent on the blood-group and on the breed. A coherence with the sex of the examined animals was not to ascertain, but a significant dependence on the age. With the mode of reaction three different types of antibodies were to define the occurence of which in fixed constellation depended significantly on the blood-group type. The clinically important warm agglutinins (38A) and -hemolysins (38 H) were mainly found in middle and high titres in type-B-cats (up to 90 %) in opposite to 4,9 % in cats with blood-group type A the sera of which mostly showed low titre cold agglutinins. Because of occurence of natural blood-group antibodies cats are already endangered in the first contact with blood-group strange blood by serological incompatibility reaction that means, transfusion reactions or Feline Neonatale Isoerythrolysis (FNI). This risk distributes among type-B-cats unequal stronger than among type-A-cats in consequence of the blood-group dependent on different antibody attributes. Because of the jeopardy by blood-group serologic incompatibility reactions the demand for a homologous (species like) and blood-group like serologically secure blood transfusion in cat arises. The testing of hemocompatibility by a cross-testing is required before each blood-transfusion, within the scope of the FNI-avoiding breeding planning or for the FNI-diagnostic in case of whelp dying. The blood typing with possible antibody proof is recommended for permanent blood donors and breeding animals. Qualitative and quantitative antibody examinations are important for the production of test sera and scientific questions.