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==Description==

==Description==

Neonatal isoerythrolysis is a disease of humans and domestic animals and has been observed in newborn cats, horses, pigs, cows and rarely in dogs. It is characterised by immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia due to ingestion of maternal colostral antibody directed against surface antigens on neonatal red blood cells. This leads to extravascular and intravascular haemolysis during the first few days of life. The maternal antibodies develop in response to exposure to specific foreign blood group antigens during previous pregnancies and unmatched transfusions. 

Neonatal isoerythrolysis is a disease of humans and domestic animals and has been observed in newborn cats, horses, pigs, cows and rarely in dogs. It is characterised by immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia due to ingestion of maternal colostral antibody directed against surface antigens on neonatal red blood cells. This leads to extravascular and intravascular haemolysis during the first few days of life.  

==Pathogenesis==

==Pathogenesis==

===Feline neonatal isoerythrolysis===

===Feline neonatal isoerythrolysis===

Although feline neonatal isoerythrolysis (FNA) is rare, the mortality associated with it is high. Cats have three main blood types, type A, type B and type AB. Worldwide, the most common blood type in cats is type A.

Cats have three main blood types, type A, type B and type AB. Worldwide, the most common blood type in cats is type A and type A is dominant over type B. Queens with type B blood have high levels of naturally occurring alloantibodies to type A blood. FNI develops when type B blood mothers mate with type A tomcats producing kittens with type A/B blood. The newborn kittens ingest maternal colostrum containing anti-A antibodies leading to the clinical signs of feline neonatal isoerythrolysis (FNI).

 

Queens with type B blood have high levels of naturally occurring alloantibodies to type A blood. FNI develops when type B blood mothers mate with type A tomcats. FNI affects the type A (and rarely the type AB) kitten born from a type B mother following ingestion of maternal colostrum containing anti-A antibodies.  

===Equine neonatal isoerythrolysis===

===Equine neonatal isoerythrolysis===

In foals, the condition results when a foal inherits red blood cell antigens (which the dam does not have) from its sire. Previous exposure of the mare to these antigens during a previous pregnancy or whole blood transfusion leads to the mare producing alloantibodies to the foal's red blood cells. At birth the foal ingests large numbers of antibodies in the colostrum, leading to severe haemolytic disease. During pregnancy however, the foal is unaffected because blood and antibodies are unable to cross the placenta.  

In foals, the condition results when a foal inherits red blood cell antigens (which the dam does not have) from its sire. Exposure of the mare to these antigens during a previous pregnancy or whole blood transfusion leads to the mare producing alloantibodies to the foal's red blood cells. At birth the foal ingests large numbers of antibodies in the colostrum, leading to severe haemolytic disease. During pregnancy however, the foal is unaffected because blood and antibodies are unable to cross the placenta.  

==Clinical signs==

==Clinical signs==

===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. Purebred cats are more commonly affected than domestic shorthair cats. 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.

Although feline neonatal isoerythrolysis (FNA) is rare, the mortality associated with it is high. In a similar way to affected foals, kittens are born and nurse normally and clinical signs develop within a few hours or days. Purebred cats are more commonly affected than domestic shorthair cats. Signs may be variable and kittens are occasionally 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. Affected kittens may separate themselves from the rest of the litter, stop nursing and appear weak. Signs may vary in severity within a single litter; this is thought to be related to differences in colostral intake. Other features of the disease may include necrosis and slouging of the tail tip and disseminated intravascular coagulation.  

 

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==