Characterization of post-transfusion anti-FEA 1 alloantibodies in transfusion-naive FEA 1-negative cats

The aim of this study was to characterize anti-feline erythrocyte antigen (FEA) 1 alloantibodies following sensitization of FEA 1-negative cats, including their rate of appearance, agglutination titer over time and immunoglobulin class. A secondary aim was to obtain polyclonal anti-FEA 1 alloantibodies to increase the availability of FEA 1 blood typing. We also describe a case study documenting an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction in a transfusion-naive FEA 1-negative feline patient that received FEA 1-positive blood.

In this prospective clinical study, 35 cats with blood group type A underwent extensive blood typing for FEA 1-5. Two cats were identified as FEA 1-negative; these cats were transfused uneventfully with 50 ml of FEA 1-positive, but otherwise compatible, packed red blood cells. Post-transfusion blood samples were collected routinely as long as anti-FEA 1 alloantibodies were detected. Appearance of anti-FEA 1 alloantibodies was detected using a gel column crossmatch method.

Anti-FEA 1 alloantibodies were detected as early as 5 days post-transfusion and remained detectable for over 400 days in one cat. Agglutination titers in both cats were relatively weak (1:1 to 1:8). The main immunoglobulin class was IgM.

Transfusion of FEA 1-negative, transfusion-naive cats with FEA 1-positive blood results in production of post-transfusion anti-FEA 1 alloantibodies as early as 5 days post-transfusion. Our results confirm the potential immunogenicity of FEA 1 and support crossmatching prior to a blood transfusion, even in transfusion-naive cats. Further studies are needed to better document the clinical importance of these post-transfusion antibodies, as well as to facilitate routine blood typing for the FEA 1 antigen in cats.