Condition2 connections · 2 sources
Neonatal Isoerythrolysis
Neonatal isoerythrolysis is a fatal immune-mediated disease where newborn kittens with type A blood nurse from a mother with type B blood, and the colostral antibodies destroy the kitten's red blood cells.
Key Facts
- Occurs when type A kittens nurse from type B queens
- Antibodies in colostrum destroy kitten's red blood cells within hours to days
- Signs: failure to thrive, dark red-brown urine (pigmenturia), jaundice, anemia, death
- Prevention: blood type parents before breeding; remove at-risk kittens from mother for first 3 days
- Cord blood typing or crossmatch can identify at-risk kittens at birth
- Type B kittens are safe to nurse from type B mothers
- Mortality is high even with early intervention; prevention is the best approach
- Breeds with higher type B frequency: British Shorthair, Devon Rex, Cornish Rex, Birman
- Species: cats