Investigation of In Vitro blood compatibility of the domestic ferret (Mustela putorious furo) with feline and canine blood

Background

Numerous diseases may result in severe anemia requiring transfusion in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). Intraspecies pretransfusion compatibility assessment is not required given that ferrets do not have blood groups. However, in emergency situations where allotransfusion can be unachievable, xenotransfusion with feline or canine blood may be considered as a life-saving procedure. This study aims to determine the in vitro compatibility of ferrets with feline or canine blood through investigation of crossmatch compatibility.

Methods

Ten transfusion-naive ferrets, five cats (all type A), and five dogs (three Dog Erythrocyte Antigen (DEA) 1+ and two DEA 1-) were enrolled. All ferrets were crossmatched against each other, and against all cats and dogs, using a standardized gel column technology.

Results

Nearly all ferrets (89 of 90 compatible crossmatches) were compatible with each other, one presenting a weakly positive autocontrol and weakly positive incompatibility reaction to another ferret. All ferrets had naturally occurring alloantibodies against all feline red blood cell (RBC) tested (50 of 50 incompatible crossmatches). Blood compatibility to canine RBC was variable: while most ferrets were compatible to all dogs (7 of 10), two had alloantibodies against all canine RBC, and one was incompatible to one dog (total 11 of 50 incompatibles crossmatches). In contrast, except for 1 crossmatch between one dog and one ferret, all minor crossmatches were positive (99 of 100 incompatibles crossmatches), demonstrating the presence of alloantibodies in cats and dogs against ferret RBC.

Conclusions and clinical relevance

Based on blood compatibility assessment, transfusions between ferrets should be preferred. If not possible, xenotransfusion with crossmatched-compatible canine packed RBC (as opposed to whole blood) can be considered.