Update on Canine and Feline Blood Donor Screening for Blood-Borne Pathogens

Wardrop, K.J.; Birkenheuer, A.; Blais, M.C.; Callan, M.B.; Kohn, B.; Lappin, M.R.; Sykes, J.

Rickettsia felis. Rickettsia felis is a member of the spotted fever group rickettsiae in dogs in the United States. These agents are likely to induce serological cross reactivity in the R. rickettsii assay. It is currently assumed that these agents are not associated with illness in dogs but further study is needed. There is evidence that dogs are the reservoir for R. felis 49 and Ctenocephalides felis collected from cats in the United States are commonly positive for R. felis DNA. 50 It is currently unknown whether transfusion of a large volume of blood from a R. felis carrier dog to an ill dog in need of a transfusion would have clinical sequelae. A PCR assay is the only way currently to prove R. felis infection in dogs. Although the panel believes that optimally dogs should test PCR-negative for R. felis infections, no screening is also acceptable ( Table 1) .