Observations on the In-Vitro Behavior of Dog Isoantibodies

Abstract

Isohemagglutinins having four different specificities have been demonstrated in dog sera. These have been arbitrarily designated anti-A, -B, -C and -D and the corresponding agglutinogens A, B, C and D in the order of their identification in this laboratory. Anti-D has been observed as a naturally occurring antibody while anti-A, -B and -C have been demonstrated only in dogs transfused with erythrocytes containing the respective factors. Many variants of the A agglutinogen exist and these have been designated A′. The A-A′ differences are partly qualitative in nature and are thought to resemble human D-D^u differences more closely than human A₁-A₂ differences. The following properties of anti-A, -B, -C and -D have been described: thermal amplitude, heat stability, hemolytic activity, complement fixation, effect of serum diluent and cell suspending medium on antibody titer, and the ability of the antibody to sensitize cells for the anti-globulin test. The in-vitro behavior of dog isoantibodies is correlated with a variety of in-vivo reactions.