Blood type compatibility of lower vertebrates: phylogenetic diversity in blood transfusion between fish species

Bidirectional transfusion was investigated using phylogenetically different fish species, including twelve from ten genera. Three different modalities were used: long-lasting persistence when rainbow trout received allogenic erythrocytes, slow rejection when rainbow trout received heterogenic erythrocytes (salmon) and acute rejection after receiving xenogenic erythrocytes (goldfish, carp and Tilapia). Changes were measured in serum using transfused erythrocytes and hemolytic assays. The responses were species specific for large taxonomic fish groups characteristic of their phylogenetic interrelations. Findings concerning the evolution of compatibility of fish blood types, in view of the taxonomy and phylogeny of vertebrates, are interesting since phylogenetic diversity in transfusion demonstrates that erythrocyte types and serum types exist even in lower vertebrates.