Blood transfusion in a young Myrmecophaga tridactyla (Pilosa, Myrmecophagidae): case report

Abstract

The present study aims to report a transfusion therapy in a juvenile Myrmecophaga tridactyla. The patient had a chronic nonregenerative anemia associated with underdevelopment. This therapy was considered after a severe worsening of the clinical condition and laboratorial tests, in which severe anemia was confirmed, with no signs of recovery. The blood used was donated by a clinically healthy adult male of the same species, raised in captivity. The procedure was performed according to medical practice for small animals, since veterinary medicine reports described for xenarthrans are scarce. The result was satisfactory, with absence of late transfusion reactions and an improvement of the patient's overall condition, which demonstrates the possibility of using blood transfusion in anteaters as a therapeutic option.