Canine Dal blood type: A red cell antigen lacking in some Dalmatians.
BACKGROUND
Based upon alloantibodies produced after sensitizing dogs with transfused blood, more than a dozen blood group systems have been recognized thus far, and some have been classified as dog erythrocyte antigens (DEA).


OBJECTIVE
A new canine red cell antigen was suspected, based on the development of specific alloantibodies in a Dalmatian previously sensitized by blood transfusions.


METHODS
Twenty-six Dalmatians (including 1 Dalmatian in need of blood compatibility studies); 55 canine blood donors.


METHODS
Serologic tests, including blood typing, crossmatching, and direct Coombs' test were performed by standard tube techniques and a novel gel column technology adapted from human blood banking.


RESULTS
By day 40 after transfusion of an anemic Dalmatian, all major crossmatch tests to 55 non-Dalmatian dogs were incompatible. The 2 initial donors, who were compatible before transfusion, were also now incompatible, suggesting the development of an alloantibody to a common red cell antigen. No siblings were available, but 4 of 25 unrelated Dalmatians were crossmatch compatible, suggesting that they were missing the same red cell antigen. The patient was blood typed DEA 1.1, 3, 4, and 5 positive, but DEA 7 negative. Further blood typing and crossmatching results did not support an association to any of these known blood types. The alloantibodies produced were determined to be of the immunoglobulin G class.


CONCLUSIONS
Based upon the identification of an acquired alloantibody in a Dalmatian, a presumably new common blood type named Dal was identified. Dalmatians lacking the Dal antigen are likely at risk of delayed and acute hemolytic transfusion reactions.
Blais
Marie-Claude
MC
Section of Medical Genetics and Penn Animal Blood Bank, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3900 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6010, USA.
Berman
Lisa
L
Oakley
Donna A
DA
Giger
Urs
U
D000818:Animals; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching / Q000662:veterinary*; D004285:Dogs / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male
D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D007518:Isoantibodies