Neonatal isoerythrolysis is an immunologic, genetic problem seen in cats, but not dogs. It may be responsible for a large proportion of fading kittens and neonatal deaths in some pedigreed catteries, where the blood type of breeding cats is unknown.

What causes neonatal Isoerythrolysis in cats?

Causes of Neonatal Isoerythrolysis in Cats Neonatal isoerythrolysis in cats is caused by incompatible blood type and alloantibodies between the mother and offspring. The condition is dependent on the genetic formula passed down from the parents, as blood type B cats possess strong antibodies against type A blood cells.

How is neonatal Isoerythrolysis treated?

Foals that develop clinical disease are treated according to their severity. In general, treatments include any combination of the following: withholding milk from the dam until the JFA is negative or the gut closes, corticosteroids, NSAIDs, antibiotics, IV fluids, oxygen, and whole blood transfusions.

How common is neonatal Isoerythrolysis?

Neonatal Isoerythrolysis (NI) in Newborn Mules The reported incidence of NI in newborn mules is about 10%, which is higher than the incidence in horses. All donkeys possess the red blood cell antigen known as donkey factor, therefore every donkey/horse breeding has potential for NI.

What kittens are at risk of neonatal Isoerythrolysis?

Big cats have the same blood types as our domestic cats. So lions, tigers, and cheetahs are also at risk for neonatal isoerythrolysis if Type A kittens are born to Type B mothers.

What is MIC blood type in cats?

Mik is also likely expressed on the type-B and AB red cells tested as plasma from donors 1 and 2 caused agglutination (3+) of these red cells similar to reactions with known Mik-positive, type-A red cells. As expected, plasma from type-A, Mik-positive cats caused only weak agglutination of type-B and AB red cells.

How do you test for neonatal isoerythrolysis?

Diagnosis is based upon clinical examination and determination of erythrocyte count, PCV and haemoglobin concentration and can be further confirmed by immunological tests. Several tests can be used to prevent the occurrence of neonatal isoerythrolysis in the newborn foal.

Which kittens are at risk of neonatal isoerythrolysis?

How is neonatal isoerythrolysis diagnosed?

When do animals develop signs of neonatal isoerythrolysis?

Neonatal isoerythrolysis in foals. Neonatal isoerythrolysis usually presents during the first 4 days of a foal’s life, or 4-7 days in mule foals. It is a medical emergency and requires immediate veterinary attention to prevent further decline in health and subsequent death.

When does fading kitten syndrome happen?

Fading kitten syndrome refers to the death of a kitten within the period of life from birth to weaning (approximately 4 to 5 weeks of age). This is the age when kittens are most vulnerable to hypothermia, hypoglycemia, dehydration and infection.

Which kittens are at risk of neonatal Isoerythrolysis?

What is neneonatal isoerythrolysis in kittens?

Neonatal isoerythrolysis is a tragedy among breeders of kittens and is often written off as infectious disease, genetic defects, or simply natural selection. In fact, it is simply a matter of mismatched blood typing. Cats do not have Rh factor but a similar parental blood mismatch can occur involving the feline blood types A, B, and AB blood.

What is neonatal isoerythrolysis?

We are describing “Neonatal Isoerythrolysis.” Neonatal isoerythrolysis is a tragedy among breeders of kittens and is often written off as infectious disease, genetic defects, or simply natural selection. In fact, it is simply a matter of mismatched blood typing.

What causes isoerythrolysis in horses?

In horses, neonatal isoerythrolysis occurs as a result of immunosensitization of the dam from exposure to an incompatible blood type inherited from the stallion (e.g., transplacental exposure to fetal blood during pregnancy or mixing of maternal and fetal blood during parturition).

Which antigens are associated with neonatal isoerythrolysis in foals?

Rarely, the antigens De, Ua, Pa, and Ab have been associated with neonatal isoerythrolysis in foals; however, to consider mares without these alloantigens to be at risk for neonatal isoerythrolysis is not practical. Of the domestic species, the horse is the only animal in which neonatal isoerythrolysis occurs naturally (McClure et al., 1996 ).