Blood type (non-human)

Animals and bacteria have cell surface antigens referred to as a blood type. Antigens from the human ABO blood group system are also found in apes such as chimpanzees, bonobos and gorillas. Other animal blood sometimes agglutinates (to varying levels of intensity) with human blood group reagents, but the structure of the blood group antigens in animals is not always identical to those typically found in humans. The classification of most animal blood groups therefore uses different blood typing systems to those used for classification of human blood.

Simian blood groups
Two categories of blood groups, human-type and simian-type, have been found in apes and monkeys and can be tested by methods established for grouping human blood.

Rhesus blood group
The Rhesus system is named after the Rhesus monkey, following experiments by Karl Landsteiner and Alexander S. Wiener, which showed that rabbits, when immunised with Rhesus monkey red cells, produce an antibody that also agglutinates the red blood cells of many humans.

Chimpanzee blood group systems
Data on blood groups of chimpanzees, baboons and macaques. Two complex chimpanzee blood group systems, V-A-B-D and R-C-E-F systems, proved to be counterparts of the human MNS and Rh-Hr blood group systems, respectively. Two blood group systems have been defined in Old World monkeys: the Drh system of macaques and the Bp system of baboons, both linked by at least one species shared by either of the blood group systems.

Canine blood groups
Over 13 canine blood groups have been described. Eight DEA (Dog Erythrocyte Antigen) types are recognized as international standards. Of the DEA, DEA 4 and DEA 6 appear on the red blood cell of ~98% of dogs. Dogs with only DEA 4 or DEA 6 can thus serve as blood donors for the majority of the canine population. Any of the DEA may stimulate an immune response in a recipient of a blood transfusion, but reactions to DEA 1.1 and 1.2 are the most severe. A simple blood card typing system is available to determine if a dog has DEA 1.1 or 1.2 antigens on their red blood cell.

Feline blood groups
The commonly recognize system of feline blood designates cats as A, B, or AB. The vast majority of cats in the United States are Type A, but the percentage of Type B cats increases in other countries, such as Australia. Type A and B cats have naturally occurring alloantibodies to the opposite blood type, although the reaction of Type B cats to Type A blood is more severe than visa versa. Based on this, all cats should have a simple blood typing test done to determine their blood type prior to a transfusion.

Equine blood groups
There are eight recognized blood groups in the horse: A, C, D, K, P, Q, T, and U. The polymorphic systems in cattle include the A, B, C, F, J, L, M, S, and Z polymorphisms.