02148-A: The Prevalence of the Dal-Negative Blood Type and Its Mode of Inheritance in Doberman Pinschers and in Dalmatians
Grant Status: Closed
Project Summary
Blood transfusions have become an integral part of advanced veterinary medicine. As in humans, several blood groups have been identified in dogs. A dog negative for a given blood group can produce antibodies following exposure to that specific blood group, which could lead to life-threatening hemolytic transfusion reactions with subsequent transfusions.
The high frequency of the canine Dal blood type creates particular challenges: 1) Dal-negative anemic dogs will most likely be sensitized via their first blood transfusion and produce anti-Dal antibodies, and 2) if further blood transfusions are required in those patients, compatible Dal-negative blood may be very difficult to find.
The purpose of this study is to establish the prevalence of the Dal-negative blood type in Doberman pinschers and in Dalmatians and its mode of inheritance. The secondary objective is to identify Dal-negative healthy blood donors.
To date, 38% of all Doberman Pinschers and 18% of all Dalmatians tested are Dal-negative. However, out of 228 blood donors, only one Dal-negative non-Doberman non-Dalmatian canine blood donor was identified (blood compatible). The significant percentage of Dal-negative dogs among Doberman Pinschers and Dalmatians in this study with the scarcity of Dal-negative canine blood donor, suggest that both breeds are at significant risk of facing transfusion incompatibilities if multiple blood transfusions are required. Finally, this study was also able to confirm the mode on inheritance of this rare blood group in Dalmatians and likely in Doberman pinschers (Dal-negative phenotype is autosomal recessive).
Publication(s)
Help Future Generations of Dogs
Participate in canine health research by providing samples or by enrolling in a clinical trial. Samples are needed from healthy dogs and dogs affected by specific diseases.
