Joint report of the Third International Workshop of Canine Immunogenetics. II. Analysis of the serological typing of cells.

Using a standardized microlymphocytotoxicity assay, seven international laboratories evaluated 144 anti-dog lymphocyte antigen (DLA) sera in 319 mixed breed and 152 Beagle dogs. The workshop confirmed the serological definitions for DLA-A2, A3, A9; DLA-B4, B5, B6, B13; DLA-C11(Cwl); and C12(Cw2). Two new specificities were assigned to the DLA-A locus (Aw14 and Aw15) in only the mixed breed dogs. A third specificity (Cw3), was assigned to the DLA-C locus. The antigen and gene frequencies of these alleles differed between the two groups of dogs, but the frequencies of the "blank" were similar in both groups. Future international collaborations will be necessary to definite more completely the polymorphisms of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the dog. Those efforts will benefit from the standard serological test established in this workshop.