Genetic polymorphism of blood proteins in Yugoslav shepherd dog

Abstract

The present study is aimed to provide the first insight into the genetic constitution of Yugoslav shepherd dog based upon analysis of blood proteins and enzyme polymorphism. A total of 60 Yugoslav shepherd dogs were included in the study and polymorphism of hemoglobin (Hb), acid phosphatase (Acp) superoxide dismutase (Sod), albumin (Al), and transferrine (If) was electrophoretically analysed. Hb system did not show polymorphism. FS and SS phenotypes of Acp were established with Acps allelic gene displaying significantly higher frequency (0.82) than AcpF (0.18). The analysis of Sod polymorphism showed SodAA and SodAB phenotypes controlled by SodA (0.74) and SodB (0.26) with clear predominance of SodA allele. Both Al allelic genes At (0.30) and Als(0.70), and all three possible phenotypes (F, FS, and S) were detected. Seven Tf phenotypes controlled by five allelic genes 77* Tf8, Tf, 77°, and Tf-were revealed which makes the Yugoslav shepherd dog the only dog breed displaying all five Tf genes. The associated gene frequencies were (0.13, 0.35, 0.06, 0.41 i 0.05), respectively. According to the calculated values of homogeneity index, Al and Tf were identified as highly polymorphic protein markers which is a result of importance for future genetic characterization of the Yugoslav shepherd dog. Significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were detected at Sod and Tf loci these being primarily attributed to genetic drift, although crossbreeding should not be disregarded as a factor of possible importance as well