Dog erythrocyte antigens 1.1, 1.2, 3, 4, 7, and Dal blood typing and cross-matching by gel column technique

Abstract

Background: Testing for canine blood types other than dog erythrocyte antigen 1.1 (DEA 1.1) is controversial and complicated by reagent availability and methodology.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to use available gel column technology to develop an extended blood-typing method using polyclonal reagents for DEA 1.1, 1.2, 3, 4, 7, and Dal and to assess the use of gel columns for cross-matching.

Methods: Dogs (43-75) were typed for DEA 1.1, 1.2, 3, 4, 7, and Dal. METHODS included tube agglutination (Tube) using polyclonal reagents, a commercially available DEA 1.1 gel column test kit (Standard-Gel) using monoclonal reagent, and multiple gel columns (Extended-Gel) using polyclonal reagents. Blood from 10 recipient and 15 donor dogs was typed as described above and cross-matched using the gel column technique.

Results: Of 43 dogs typed for DEA 1.1, 23, 25, and 20 dogs were positive using Standard-Gel, Extended-Gel, and Tube, respectively. Typing for DEA 1.2 was not achievable with Extended-Gel. For 75 dogs typed for DEA 3, 4, and 7, concordance of Extended-Gel with Tube was 94.7%, 100%, and 84%, respectively. Dal, determined only by Extended-Gel, was positive for all dogs. Post-transfusion major cross-matches were incompatible in 10 of 14 pairings, but none were associated with demonstrable blood type incompatibilities.

Conclusions: Gel column methodology can be adapted for use with polyclonal reagents for detecting DEA 1.1, 3, 4, 7, and Dal. Agglutination reactions are similar between Extended-Gel and Tube, but are more easily interpreted with Extended-Gel. When using gel columns for cross-matching, incompatible blood cross-matches can be detected following sensitization by transfusion, although in this study incompatibilities associated with any tested DEA or Dal antigens were not found.

Figure 1

Dog erythrocyte antigen (DEA) profiles of 3 dogs. The reaction strengths are recorded at the bottom and are graded from negative (0) to 4+ with strengths ≥2+ considered positive. Blood types and controls are recorded directly below the reaction wells. (A) Standard-Gel showing that Dogs A and C are DEA 1.1+ and Dog B is DEA 1.1−; associated saline controls (ctl) are negative. (B) Extended-Gel (Gel-Coombs) showing that Dogs A and C are DEA 1.1+ and Dog B is DEA 1.1−; associated direct antiglobulin tests (DAT) are negative. (C) Extended-Gel showing the extended DEA and Dal profile of Dog A; associated control (ctl) is negative and dog is positive for DEA 4 and Dal. (D) Extended-Gel showing the extended DEA and Dal profile of Dog B; associated ctl is negative and dog is positive for DEA 4, 7, and Dal.