Prevalence of a Novel Immunogenic Feline Erythrocyte Antigen (FEA 6) and Expression Patterns Between FEAs

ABSTRACT Background After the identification of five novel feline erythrocyte antigens (FEAs) and evidence establishing FEA 1's immunogenicity, attempts to sensitize a cat to FEA 4 unexpectedly resulted in the production of alloantibodies directed against an unknown antigen, named FEA 6. Object...

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Main Authors: Félix Bajon, Julie Arsenault, Marie Claude Blais
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.70094
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author Félix Bajon
Julie Arsenault
Marie Claude Blais
author_facet Félix Bajon
Julie Arsenault
Marie Claude Blais
author_sort Félix Bajon
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background After the identification of five novel feline erythrocyte antigens (FEAs) and evidence establishing FEA 1's immunogenicity, attempts to sensitize a cat to FEA 4 unexpectedly resulted in the production of alloantibodies directed against an unknown antigen, named FEA 6. Objectives To estimate the prevalence of FEA 6 as a presumably new antigen, identify corresponding naturally occurring alloantibodies (NOAb), and investigate the associations between known FEAs. Animals Two hundread and seven cats. Methods Prospective blood typing for FEAs 1–6 was conducted in Type A cats (n = 193), followed by serial crossmatching in groups of 3–7 cats to detect NOAb and identify their target FEA. Agreement between FEA 6 blood typing and other FEAs was assessed. Associations between FEAs were evaluated to identify expression patterns. Results Among 193 Type A cats, 67% were FEA 6‐positive. Agreement analyses were supportive of FEA 6 being distinct from FEAs 1–5. NOAb were detected in 11 cats (5.7%), none of which were anti‐FEA 6. Only FEA 1‐negative status was significantly associated with the presence of NOAb (OR = 6.6, 95% CI, 1.9–23.1; p < 0.001). Significant associations were observed between the expressions of FEAs 1 and 4 (χ2 = 25.7, p < 0.001), and FEAs 3 and 5 (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.001), respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance The immunogenicity and prevalence of the newly discovered FEA 6 raise concerns regarding its clinical relevance and role in posttransfusion sensitization. FEA 1/FEA 4 and FEA 3/FEA 5 pairs might belong to distinct antigenic systems.
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spelling doaj-art-33c9853eaee7446593e0a9deb40a91102025-08-20T01:53:50ZengWileyJournal of Veterinary Internal Medicine0891-66401939-16762025-05-01393n/an/a10.1111/jvim.70094Prevalence of a Novel Immunogenic Feline Erythrocyte Antigen (FEA 6) and Expression Patterns Between FEAsFélix Bajon0Julie Arsenault1Marie Claude Blais2Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vétérinaire, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire University of Montreal Saint‐Hyacinthe CanadaDepartment of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire University of Montreal Saint‐Hyacinthe CanadaDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire University of Montreal Saint‐Hyacinthe CanadaABSTRACT Background After the identification of five novel feline erythrocyte antigens (FEAs) and evidence establishing FEA 1's immunogenicity, attempts to sensitize a cat to FEA 4 unexpectedly resulted in the production of alloantibodies directed against an unknown antigen, named FEA 6. Objectives To estimate the prevalence of FEA 6 as a presumably new antigen, identify corresponding naturally occurring alloantibodies (NOAb), and investigate the associations between known FEAs. Animals Two hundread and seven cats. Methods Prospective blood typing for FEAs 1–6 was conducted in Type A cats (n = 193), followed by serial crossmatching in groups of 3–7 cats to detect NOAb and identify their target FEA. Agreement between FEA 6 blood typing and other FEAs was assessed. Associations between FEAs were evaluated to identify expression patterns. Results Among 193 Type A cats, 67% were FEA 6‐positive. Agreement analyses were supportive of FEA 6 being distinct from FEAs 1–5. NOAb were detected in 11 cats (5.7%), none of which were anti‐FEA 6. Only FEA 1‐negative status was significantly associated with the presence of NOAb (OR = 6.6, 95% CI, 1.9–23.1; p < 0.001). Significant associations were observed between the expressions of FEAs 1 and 4 (χ2 = 25.7, p < 0.001), and FEAs 3 and 5 (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.001), respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance The immunogenicity and prevalence of the newly discovered FEA 6 raise concerns regarding its clinical relevance and role in posttransfusion sensitization. FEA 1/FEA 4 and FEA 3/FEA 5 pairs might belong to distinct antigenic systems.https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.70094alloimmunizationblood typingcrossmatchMik antigennaturally occurring alloantibodiestransfusion
spellingShingle Félix Bajon
Julie Arsenault
Marie Claude Blais
Prevalence of a Novel Immunogenic Feline Erythrocyte Antigen (FEA 6) and Expression Patterns Between FEAs
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
alloimmunization
blood typing
crossmatch
Mik antigen
naturally occurring alloantibodies
transfusion
title Prevalence of a Novel Immunogenic Feline Erythrocyte Antigen (FEA 6) and Expression Patterns Between FEAs
title_full Prevalence of a Novel Immunogenic Feline Erythrocyte Antigen (FEA 6) and Expression Patterns Between FEAs
title_fullStr Prevalence of a Novel Immunogenic Feline Erythrocyte Antigen (FEA 6) and Expression Patterns Between FEAs
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of a Novel Immunogenic Feline Erythrocyte Antigen (FEA 6) and Expression Patterns Between FEAs
title_short Prevalence of a Novel Immunogenic Feline Erythrocyte Antigen (FEA 6) and Expression Patterns Between FEAs
title_sort prevalence of a novel immunogenic feline erythrocyte antigen fea 6 and expression patterns between feas
topic alloimmunization
blood typing
crossmatch
Mik antigen
naturally occurring alloantibodies
transfusion
url https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.70094
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