Survival of pigeon red blood cells after transfusion into selected raptors.

Survival time of 51Cr-labeled pigeon RBC transfused into 5 raptors was determined. Mean +/- SD estimated RBC survival time was 0.51 +/- 0.19 days. This was considerably shorter than estimated survival time of autologous RBC in a Red-tailed Hawk (estimated survival, 35.1 days) and in a pigeon (estimated survival, 26.8 days). Estimated survival time after homologous transfusion of RBC from one pigeon to another was 7.1 days. Although single heterologous blood transfusions have been recommended as a safe and efficacious means of whole blood replacement in birds, results of this study suggest that heterologous RBC transfused from pigeons to selected raptor species are rapidly destroyed.