BLOODTRANSFUSION IN
CATTLE
Marcel Van Aert DVM
Practitioner
Ghent University
Purpose
• Live-saving therapy in cases of life-threathening
anaemia in cattle
• Relatively simple to perform
• Procedure takes 60 to 80 minutes
• Spectacular results
• Low cost possible
• Economically justifiable
Facts and figures
• Normal blood volume: 8 % of BW
• Normal adult bovine PCV: 24 - 43 %
• Haemorrhagic shock when 30 - 40 %
of the total blood volume is lost rapidly
Facts and figures
• A cow with a PCV of 10 % will have lost two-thirds of
its circulating red cells
• One litre blood will raise up the PCV with +/- 0,75 %
• The clinical difference between a cow with a PVC
of 8 % and a cow with 14 % is remarkable
• Turn over of red cells is not very long(2 à 3 days)
• Repeated transfusions can cause reactions, red cell
survival only a few hours
Indications
• Acute haemorrhage
– Rupture of a.vaginalis after(severe) extraction
– Complication after caesarian sectio
– Uterusprolaps
– Umbilical vesseldamage by a newborn calf
– Trauma
• Abomasal ulceration
– Anaemia and melena
• Redwater:
– Tickborn protozoan parasite (Babesia divergens)
– Destruction of erythrocytes
Procedure
• Donor cow:
– Quiet to handle
– Healthy
– Not heavily pregnant
– Large animal with a normal BCS
– Non-lactating, since the administration of xylazine
will necessitate a milk withholding period
Equipment required
– Xylazine -Procaine -Scalpel
– Large bore needle -Tourniquet - Funnel
– Na-citrate - Physiological serum
– Collapsible plastic containers for blood collection
Blood collection
• Restraint is achieved using a halter,
• Head tied up
• Sedation: xylazine
• Prepare the collection site in the mid-jugular
area
• Local anaesthesia
• Small incision in the skin
• Some anaesthetic subcutaneously around
jugular vein
Collection
• Large bore needle (diameter 4 – 5 mm)
• Raise the vein with tourniquet( chain, rope with
small round block or digital pressure)
• Insert the large bore needle trough the skin
incision and into the jugular vein
• Blood collected by using a funnel inserted into
the top of the collection vessel (plastic
waterbottles 1.1/2 ltrs) with anticoagulans
Bloodcollection
• Agitate gently the collected blood to mix it with
the anticoagulanssolution
• Look out for contamination
• After collection of 5 to 8 litres(+/- 10 min),
release pressure and remove needle
• Close the skin with a couple sutures
• For small amounts(450 ml), use human
disposable vacuumbags(Terumo)
Anticoagulanssolution
• Sodium citrate:
– 100 ml of a 3.8 to 5 % per litre blood
– Make it freshly up : physiological serum with the sodium
citrate (crystalline powder)
• Heparin sodium:
– Solution 5000 units in 5 ml vials
– 5000 units for 1 litre blood
• Before collecting :coat the needle and funnel with the
anticoagulanssolution, otherwise bloodclothforming during
collection possible
• Collected blood should be used within two hours
Administration of blood
• Restraint the recipient animal
• Sedation mostly not necessary
• Prepare the insertion area
• Local anesthesia
• Small skin incision
• Insert a 12 gauge 8 cm catheder and suture in place
• Attach the giving set to the catheder
• Transfusion of 5 to 8 litres will take 30 to 45 minutes
• Monitor transfusionreactions
• Blood may be given intraperitoneally, red cells will taken up in
an unaltered state, absorption is relatively slow
Transfusionreactions
• Bovine blood 13 major types
• Bovine red cells don’t agglutinate easily
• Most important factors: haemolysins
• Preformed isohaemolysins not present or in a very low quantity
• Repeated transfusions within seven days more risk for reaction
Transfusionreaction signs
Usually reactions are rare and mild
• Increase of respiratory rate
• Hiccuping
• Sweating
• Tachycardia
• Violent movements
• Severe respiratory distress
• Coma and death
• Treatment: adrenaline 5 ml (1: 1000, 1mg/ml solution) IM
or cortico’s
Conclusion
• Bloodtransfusion in cattle are performed as an
emergency life saving procedure
• The risk of a transfusion reaction is low
• Just try it
• Many thanks to the students, my colleagues
and Dr. Andrew Soldan
