BLOOD TRANSFUSION IN VETERINARY PRACTICE
ANNARAO, TRUPTI SURYAKANT KATTIMANI AND INDRALE UTPALA
(VETERINARY OFFICERS DEPT OF AH&VS, GOVT OF KARNATAKA)
Anaemia is termed as a reduction below the normal range of erythrocyte numbers which if persistent is often associated with a reduction in haemoglobin value per cell. Severe reduction in RBC Count, haemoglobin and PCV termed as anaemia characterised by pale to paper white mucous membrane and oral mucosa, hurried respiration, thin, weakness, dehydration, slow-moving, rough hair coat, dullness, depression, pallor mucus membrane, reluctant to move reduced appetite and water intake advances cases recumbency coma and death.
Indications of blood transfusion
Chronic blood loss due to severe end ectoparasitic infestation, trauma, blood loss, recently underwent major surgery, nutritional deficiency, poor feeding practices, bacterial infection, haemo protozoal infection, liver and bone marrow pathology and blood loss due to unknown causes.
Criteria for Selection of donors for blood transfusion
Donors selected were apparently healthy, adult animals with good temperament, aged between 3-6 years, with pinkish oral and conjunctival mucus membranes and having haemoglobin value above 11 gm/dL. Selected donors should be screened for internal, external, haemo protozoal and enteric protozoal infestation by blood smear, faecal smear and clinical examination and clinically negative animals should be selected for blood transfusion. Pregnant, lactating, parasitic infested and those showing positive agglutination reaction on major and minor matching should be rejected for blood transfusion. Animals with mild anaemia should not be used as donors, too young and too old animals should not be used as donors.
Instruments needed for blood transfusion under field conditions
Blood bag with anticoagulant, transfusion drip set, blood collection vials plain and with EDTA for blood examination. CPDA Blood bags, In case of blood bag unavailability new, non-used, sterile empty urine bags, sterile empty glass bottles of capacity of 500 ml and above can be used, and add 100 ml of sodium citrate (3.8%) for every 900 ml of blood and sodium citrate (3.8%) solution, sterile swabs, gloves and Thermometer.
Blood cross-matching
- Direct method
Procedure: Mix one drop of donor blood with 3ml of normal saline. Add 2 drops of this mixture on a clean glass slide mix with 2 drops of recipient serum, gently agitate for 3-5 minutes.
Results: Uniform distribution of cells – Compatable: Donor accepted.
Clumping of RBC – Non-compatable: Donor rejected.
- Indirect method: Consist of major matching and minor matching.
- Major matching
Procedure: 2 drops of donor RBC in a clean sterile test tube and 2 drops serum of recipient mix well, incubate for 30 minutes at 37ºC followed by centrifuge test tube at 5000 rpm for 1 minute.
Results: Haemolysis – Incompatibility: Donor rejected.
Agglutination – Incompatibility: Donor rejected.
Uniform distribution of cells – Compatible: Donor accepted.
- Minor matching
Procedure: 2 drops of donor serum in a clean sterile test tube and 2 drops RBC of recipient mix well, incubate for 30 minutes at 37ºC followed by centrifuge test tube at 5000 rpm for 1 minute.
Results: Haemolysis – Incompatibility: Donor rejected.
Agglutination – Incompatibility: Donor rejected.
Uniform distribution of cells – Compatible: Donor accepted.
Major matching and minor matching should be done prior to transfusion. Donor and recipient blood with negative agglutination reaction should be used and positive agglutination reaction should be rejected for transfusion.
Pre and post-medication
Recipients should be treated symptomatically as per the aetiology of anaemia and Dexamethasone by intravenous route and Chlorpheniramine malate by intramuscular route at the prescribed rate to avoid adverse reactions during blood transfusion. After the blood collection from the donor equal quantity of Ringers Lactate administered intravenously to avoid complications like hypovolemia and hypoglycaemia and should be supplemented with oral haematinic agents for 5-7 days. Recipients should be stable and free from ongoing infection, pyrexia, inflammation, and acute pathology.
Blood collection
Blood should be collected in sterile, CPDA-ready polythene bags. Uro bag and sodium citrate (3.8%) combination used in the blood transfusion of large animals under field conditions
Storage and administration of blood
Immediately after the collection blood transfusion procedure is followed with a slow intravenous route at the rate of 10-20ml/kg/hour. Collected blood can be stored in room temperature 4-6 hours before transfusion.
Adverse reactions
Immediately during transfusion there may be sudden shivering, allergy and histamine mediated hypersensitivity observed rarely. Shivering, dyspnoea, sweating may be observed. Immune mediated haematuria. Hypocalcaemia may occur due to citrate toxicity. Transfer of sub-clinical infections like Theileriosis, Brucellosis, Tuberculosis, Lumpy skin disease etc may observed after long period of time.
References
1.Text book of Clinical Veterinary Medicine. By ICAR Publication.
2.Essentials of Veterinary Surgery by Venugopala.
- Hand book of Veterinary Clinicians by A U Bhikane and S B Kawitkar.
