Changes

===Cats===

===Cats===

In a similar way to affected foals, kittens are born and nurse normally and clinical signs develop within a few hours or days. Signs may be variable; this has been hypothesised to be due to varying amounts of anti-A antibodies ingested. Clinical signs may include failure to thrive, weakness, dark red/brown urine, icterus, and anaemia.  

In a similar way to affected foals, kittens are born and nurse normally and clinical signs develop within a few hours or days. Signs may be variable and kittens may be found dead within a few hours of the onset of clinical signs. Affected kittens rarely survive the first week of life. Clinical signs may include failure to thrive, weakness, dark red/brown urine, icterus, and anaemia. Signs may vary in severity within a single litter; this is thought to be related to differences in colostral intake.

 

Affected kittens may separate themselves from the rest of the litter, stop nursing and appear weak. Other features of the disease may include necrosis and slouging of the tail tip and disseminated intravascular coagulation.  

==Diagnosis==

==Diagnosis==

To definitively diagnose the condition in horses, a minor cross-match is performed using the foal's red blood cells and the mare's serum. A positive agglutination indicates a diagnosis of NI.  

To definitively diagnose the condition in horses, a minor cross-match is performed using the foal's red blood cells and the mare's serum. A positive agglutination indicates a diagnosis of NI.  

==Treatment==

==Treatment==

A blood transfusion should be considered if the anaemia is severe (PCV less than 15%) or the foal is weak and shocked. The best donor of blood for transfusion is the dam, but this means that the serum containing the alloantibodies must be removed ('washing' of the red blood cells). This is achieved by mixing the mare's blood with saline and performing repeated centrifugation. If washed red blood cells from the mare are not available, blood from an acceptable blood-typed donor horse may be used.  

A blood transfusion should be considered if the anaemia is severe (PCV less than 15%) or the foal is weak and shocked. The best donor of blood for transfusion is the dam, but this means that the serum containing the alloantibodies must be removed ('washing' of the red blood cells). This is achieved by mixing the mare's blood with saline and performing repeated centrifugation. If washed red blood cells from the mare are not available, blood from an acceptable blood-typed donor horse may be used.  

Affected kittens should be removed from the queen for a period of 24 hours.  

Affected kittens should be removed from the queen for a period of 24 hours and fed milk replacer or fostered onto a lactating queen with blood type A. After this period, intestinal permeability to antibodies is greatly reduced and the kittens may be returned to the original queen. Supportive management of hypoglycaemia and hypothermia may be necessary. Severely affected kittens may require a blood transfusion, preferably with Oxyglobin if available. If this is not possible, washed type A blood is preferred.

 

==Prevention==

==Prevention==

The disease in horses is prevented by ensuring that mares are blood-typed before being mated. Mares who are negative for the blood antigens known for causing disease (primarily Aa, Qa, Qc and Ua) can be matched to stallions who are also negative.  

The disease in horses is prevented by ensuring that mares are blood-typed before being mated. Mares who are negative for the blood antigens known for causing disease (primarily Aa, Qa, Qc and Ua) can be matched to stallions who are also negative.  

==References==

==References==

*Mair, T. S. (1998) '''Equine Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction''' ''Elsevier Health Sciences''

*Mair, T. S. (1998) '''Equine Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction''' ''Elsevier Health Sciences''

 

[[Category:Materno-Fetal Immunity|E]]

[[Category:Materno-Fetal Immunity|E]]