A New Taxonomic Tool. II. Serological Differences between Baboons and Geladas Demonstrated by Cross-Immunization

Abstract

Among the isoantibodies produced in baboons, anti-B^p, anti-C^p and anti-G^p cross-react with red cells of geladas, while anti-A^p and the newly found anti-N^p do not. Baboons cross-immunized with red cells of geladas produce antisera reactive not only with red cells of all geladas, but also isospecific for blood factors B^p and G^p of baboons. Blood group specificities detected by cross-immunesera may provide a new criterion for primate taxonomy.

Blood Groups of Macaques: a Comparative Study

“…The findings point to an intimate proxi mity between rhesus and pig-tailed macaques, while the decreasing level of cross-reactivity of the rhesus isoimmune sera with the red cells of other macaque species suggests that their relative taxonomic distances from rhesus monkeys increase in the order: crab-eating macaques, stump-tailed macaques, bonnet macaques. The serological relationship between bonnet macaques and rhesus monkeys is similar to that found, for example, between baboons and geladas : some of baboon sera reacted with all geladas tested, while other antisera failed to agglutinate the red cells of all geladas; none of the numerous red cell polymorphism known in baboons has so far been detected on the red cells of geladas [8]. It would be of importance to find out whether isoimmune sera produced in macaque species other than rhesus monkeys similarly cross-react with the red cells of various species of maca ques, and if so, whether the degree of reciprocal cross-reactivity depends on taxonomic distances among the species.…”

Spontaneously Occurring Agglutinins in Primate Sera

“…Noteworthy are the high titers and avidity of some of the reac tions. Parallel tests with our standard blood-grouping reagents indicated that the serum of this baboon contained antibodies of two already known baboon simian-type blood group specificities, namely anti-Bp [11] and a second, much weaker antibody, anti-Gp [13]. In conformity with our previous experience with anti-Bp, the titers were highest by the antiglobulin method and considerably lower, though of good avidity, by the saline agglutination method; the serum was nonreactive for ficinated red cells.…”

National Primate Plan of the United States of America

“…Thus, a considerable breeding effort has been undertaken while ignoring the basic genetic tenets which have proven themselves in breeding of the laboratory mouse, of cattle, horses and other domestic animals. This omission is even less understandable in view of the ready availability of a well-developed blood group testing program for most of the widely used primates species [21,34] and the demonstration of the taxonomic im portance of these genetic markers [22][23][24][25]. It should be noted that the lack of population genetics studies in the Primate Center Program has been pointed out by a recent evalu ation [33], and that erythroblastosis fetalis has been shown to interfere with breeding so far in chimpanzees [32], and in baboons [29,30].…”