Dog leucocyte antigen class II diversity and relationships among indigenous dogs of the island nations of Indonesia (Bali), Australia and New Guinea

Abstract

The genetic polymorphism at the dog leucocyte antigen (DLA) class II loci DQA1, DQB1 and DRB1 was studied in a large genetically diverse population of feral and wild-type dogs from the large island nations of Indonesia (Bali), Australia and New Guinea (Bali street dog, dingo and New Guinea singing dog, respectively). Sequence-based typing (SBT) of the hypervariable region of DLA-DRB1, -DQA1 and -DQB1 alleles was used to determine genetic diversity. No new DQA1 alleles were recognized among the three dog populations, but five novel DLA-DRB1 and 2 novel DLA-DQB1 allele sequences were detected. Additional unknown alleles were postulated to exist in Bali street dogs, as indicated by the large percentage of individuals (15%-33%) that had indeterminate DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 alleles by SBT. All three groups of dogs possessed alleles that were relatively uncommon in conventional purebreds. The New Guinea singing dog and dingo shared alleles that were not present in the Bali street dogs. These findings suggested that the dingo was more closely related to indigenous dogs from New Guinea. Feral dog populations, in particular large ones such as that of Bali, show genetic diversity that existed prior to phenotypic selection for breeds originating from their respective regions. This diversity needs to be identified and maintained in the face of progressive Westernization. These populations deserve further study as potential model populations for the evolution of major histocompatibility complex alleles, for the study of canine genetic diversity, for the development of dog breeds and for studies on the comigration of ancestral human and dog populations.

Mitochondrial DNA data indicate an introduction through Mainland Southeast Asia for Australian dingoes and Polynesian domestic dogs

“…This strongly indicates a common origin of these two ‘pre-Neolithic’ dog populations. A common ancestry of NGSDs and dingoes is also suggested by similarities in morphology and behaviour [36], as well as sharing of dog leukocyte antigen (DLA) haplotypes [45]. Among the 12 samples from lowland New Guinea, one had haplotype A29 and two had A79 (unique to NGSDs and the lowland village dogs), indicating a relation between the lowland and highland populations.…”

Narrow genetic basis for the Australian dingo confirmed through analysis of paternal ancestry

“…Furthermore, all Dog Leucocyte Antigen (DLA) alleles found in NGSDs were shared with the Australian dingo (Runstadler et al . 2006). …”

Phylogenetic Distinctiveness of Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian Village Dog Y Chromosomes Illuminates Dog Origins

“…We used highly resolved Y-chromosome SNP-STR haplotypes to assess the approximate minimum age and genetic similarity of these village dog populations. To address uncertainty in STR mutation rates, estimates of divergence time were calibrated using Australian dingoes and Bali dogs, both of which are known to have been isolated for several thousand years based on independent evidence [17]–[19], [27], [28]. We then compared NRY haplotypes of these village dogs to those of 124 dogs representing >35 contemporary breeds to assess phylogenetic affinities with the two “geo-referenced” village dog populations.…”