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Transcript

Blood types

In veterinary species

SUMMARY

This flipped classroom material will help you to revise concepts around blood types, in readiness for your 'Blood Transfusion' Lecture.You will also be signposted the some incredible resources that vets in practice use, to help them with the decision making and practical skills involved with transfusion therapy.

contents

wHAT ARE BLOOD TYPES?
Why do i need to know this?
bLOOD TYPES IN DOGS
CONSOLIDATION QUIZ
bLOOD TYPES IN CATS
uSEFUL RESOURCES

The donor's blood type is determined by the presence of specific antigens - as represented by these blue surface proteins

The donor's red blood cell

THE DONOR

THE PATIENT OR RECIPIENT

The patient's blood type is determined by the presence of specific antigens - as represented by these purple surface proteins

The patient's (also known as the recipent) red blood cell

What are blood types?

Blood types are determined by proteins or 'antigens' on the surface of red blood cells.we need to consider that both patient (or recipient) and donor red blood cells possess antigens.

The donor's plasma may also contain antibodies against red blood cell antigens

THE DONOR

THE PATIENT OR RECIPIENT

The patient's plasma may also contain antibodies against red blood cell antigens

Blood type antibodies

Both recipents and donors may have antibodies against red blood cell antigens in their plasma. The may be present from birth or be acquired through exposure to another animal's blood. For example, following a previous transfusion.

= TRANSFUSION REACTION

The recipient's plasma red blood cell antigens

The donor's red blood cell

Why do you need to know?

If blood types are not considered, immune mediated transfusion reactions are more likely to be seen. The most severe reactions are seen when there are antibodies present within the recipient’s plasma against antigens found upon the donors red blood cells.

= TRANSFUSION REACTION

The recipient's plasma red blood cell antigens

The donor's red blood cell

Transfusion reactions

During a transfusion reaction, the recipient's immune system will mount an attack against the red blood cells that are being donated. This can lead to:

  • Fever
  • Tachycardia
  • Dyspnoea
  • Muscle tremors
  • Vomiting
  • Weakness or collapse
  • Haemoglobinemia and haemoglobinuria
  • Death

Blood types in dogs

THE FACTS:

  • The dog erythrocyte antigen or 'DEA' for short is the most clinically relevant blood type
  • Laboratories can type for 5 DEAs: 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7
  • A dog can positive or negative for each of these 5 DEAs
  • DEA 1 is the most antigenic (i.e. is responsible forthe most severe transfusion reactions) and the only DEA that we can type for in clinical practice
  • Dogs possess no 'pre-formed' antibodies against DEA 1 from birth

A DEA1 negative dog: the red blood cell does not possess DEA 1 antigen, nor does its plasma possess any anti-DEA 1 alloantibodies

DEA 1 NEGATIVE DOG

DEA 1 POSITIVE DOG

A DEA1 positive dog: the red blood cell possesses DEA 1 antigen.

Blood types in dogs

Below you can see the difference between DEA 1 positive and negative blood. This also demonstrates that without previous exposure/sensitisation, the DEA 1 negative dog's plasma, does not possess any anti-DEA1 antibodies.

Other blood types DO exist

However, it is worthwhile remembering that other blood types outside of the DEA system exist – take for example Dal. Strangely, most dogs are Dal positive, whilst Dalmatians are Dal negative. This means that ideally, we would give Dalmatians blood from other dalmatians – because we cannot type non-dalmatian dogs in house.

Blood types in Cats

THE FACTS:

  • Cats have 3 blood types: A, B and AB
  • In cats, naturally occurring/pre-formed alloantibodies are present in the plasma
  • Antibody formation does NOT require prior exposure through transfusion or pregnancy
  • The antibodies may cause fatal transfusion reactions upon first transfusion and are also responsible for neonatal isoerythrolysis
  • Other types exist that we cannot routinely type for e.g. Mik

TYPE AB CAT

TYPE B CAT

TYPE A CAT

The red blood cell possesses both A and B surface antigens. They have no antibodies against either antigen in their plasma.

The red blood cell possesses B surface antigen. Their plasma contains lots of pre-formed anti-A antibodies.

The red blood cell possesses A surface antigen. Their plasma contains pre-formed anti-B alloantibodies. These are weak and low in number.

BLOOD TYPES IN CATS

SO HOW DO I GIVE A BLOOD TRANFUSION?

Hold fire - you don't need to worry about this just yet. During the lecture we will talk more about:

  • Which patients would benefit from a blood transfusion,
  • What blood products are available
  • How to choose the right product for your patient
  • How to obtain the product
  • How to administer the product safely

Then take this short consolidation quiz...

For now, just increase your familiarity with the following useful webpages from pet blood bank UK. These are the same resources that vets use in practice to support them with giving blood transfusions.

USEFUL RESOURCEs: From Pet BLOOD BANK UK

Blood typing

Click below for a web page that gives you further information on how to blood type dogs and cats

Obtaining blood products

Click below for information on how to acquire blood for emergency and non-emergency cases

Administering blood products

Explore the webpage below for advice on how to administer a blood transfusion

cONSOLIDATION QUIZ

cONSOLIDATION QUIZ

cONSOLIDATION QUIZ

cONSOLIDATION QUIZ

cONSOLIDATION QUIZ

cONSOLIDATION QUIZ

CONCLUSIONS

  • Understanding blood types in veterinary patients is important to help us in avoiding life threatening transfusion reactions
  • The most clinically significant canine blood type is Dog Erythrocyte Antigen 1 (DEA 1)
  • Other canine blood types do exist
  • Dogs do not have pre-formed antibodies against red blood cell antigens in their plasma from birth - they would only acquire these through exposure to another animal's blood
  • The most clinically significant feline blood types are A, B and AB
  • Other feline blood types do exist
  • Cats do have pre-formed antibodies against red blood cell antigens in their plasma from birth
  • The most severe transfusion reactions are seen when there are antibodies present within the recipient’s plasma against antigens found upon the donors red blood cells.

THE END