Cold agglutinins in cats with haemobartonellosis

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1990 Mar 15;196(6):907-10.

Abstract

Coombs-positive anemia developed in cats inoculated with Haemobartonella felis. Cold agglutinins were detected in serum during the acute stage of the disease when anemia was present. The cold agglutinating activity was associated with IgM, was demonstrated at 4 C, and was abolished by treatment of sera with 2-mercaptoethanol. At 4 C, the sera from infected cats agglutinated or lysed parasitized autologous erythrocytes or normal erythrocytes pretreated with neuraminidase. These data indicate that cold agglutinins are associated with haemobartonellosis and suggest that immunologic responses to erythrocytic antigens have a role in the anemia.

MeSH terms

  • Agglutination Tests / veterinary
  • Anaplasmataceae / pathogenicity
  • Anaplasmataceae Infections / blood
  • Anaplasmataceae Infections / complications
  • Anaplasmataceae Infections / veterinary*
  • Anemia / blood
  • Anemia / immunology
  • Anemia / veterinary
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / blood
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / complications
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / etiology
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / veterinary*
  • Animals
  • Cat Diseases / blood*
  • Cats
  • Coombs Test / veterinary
  • Erythrocytes / immunology
  • Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms