شیوع آنتی ژن اریتروسیت 1 سگ در 7414 سگ در ایتالیا Prevalence of Dog Erythrocyte Antigen 1 in 7,414 Dogs in Italy

1. Introduction Canine blood groups are recognized and have standardized terminology as Dog Erythrocyte Antigen (DEA). The DEA system includes seven well-known blood groups (DEA 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8) with over twenty antigen specificities [1–4]. Other nonstandardized antigens within DEA such as Dal [3, 5] and the recently described Kai 1 and 2 have been reported [6]. Canine blood groups comprise a two-allele system with a positive and negative type. The DEA 1 blood group system initially was described with 3 types, DEA 1.1, 1.2, and likely 1.3 [3, 7, 8]. Utilizing quantitative flow cytometry and an immunochromatographic technique with a monoclonal anti-DEA 1 alloantibody the continuum of DEA 1 negative to weakly (1+) up to strongly DEA 1 positive (4+) blood type was observed in contrast to the originally described DEA 1 system and with a significant correlation between these tests [9]. Recently, an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance of 4 alleles of DEA 1 with strong (4+) to weak (1+) reactivity was discovered. DEA 1 positive alleles are dominant over DEA 1 negative allele without any direct correlation with the historical DEA 1.2 positive subtype [10]. So now, it is accepted to speak about the DEA 1 group as a whole without any subtype [9, 10]. Natural occurring antibodies against DEA 1 antigen in dog’s erythrocytes have never been positively identified [11]. On the other hand, natural antibodies against DEA 3, 5, and 7 have been documented with a prevalence of 6%, 23%, and 45%, respectively [2]. However, although all canine blood group antigens can stimulate the formation of alloantibodies, DEA 1 seems to be the most immunogenic and also is considered the most clinically important. Alloantibodies will appear following the first transfusion in DEA 1 negative recipient dogs receiving positive DEA 1 red blood cells (RBCs) within 4–14 days [11–14]. Sensitization of the recipient and production of alloantibodies can result in a severe acute hemolytic transfusion reaction and even death if a second DEA 1 positive RBC transfusion is administered to the same patient [15–17]. The risk of alloantibody production and transfusion reactions against antigens other than DEA 1 is Hindawi Veterinary Medicine International Volume 2017, Article ID 5914629, 10 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/5914629 2 Veterinary Medicine International not yet well defined [2] and there is no documented clinical evidence of a hemolytic reaction caused by DEA 1.2, 3, 5, and 7 in mismatched transfusions [18]. Blood typing to identify the presence of DEA 1 and the cross-match to establish full compatibility should be performed before each transfusion in order to reduce the risk of sensitization or immunological reaction between donor and recipient dogs [2, 19, 20].