Veterinarski Arhiv 78 (2), 141-147, 2008
Blood groups, haematology and clinicochemical indicators in indigenous breeds of dog. I. Croatian sheepdog
Damir Žubčić1*, Ljiljana Bedrica1, Damjan Gračner1, Ivica Harapin1, Mijo Fury2, and Jasna Jeremić3
1Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
2Veterinary Station Županja
3State Institute for Nature Protection, Zagreb, Croatia
ŽUBČIĆ, D., LJ. BEDRICA, D. GRAČNER, I. HARAPIN, M. FURY, J. JEREMIĆ:
Blood groups, haematology and clinicochemical indicators in indigenous breeds of
dog. 1. Croatian sheepdogs. Vet. arhiv 78, 141-147, 2008.
ABSTRACT
The research involved 95 pure breed Croatian sheepdogs, 48 females and 47 males ranging in age from 1 to
12 years. Blood samples were taken to establish certain biochemical indicators (urea, creatinine, total proteins,
glucose, total bilirubin, AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, amylase, Ca, P). No changes were
observed through comparison of average values. Blood samples of 30 dogs, from that group, also were taken to
establish blood group DEA (Dog Erythrocyte Antigen) 1.1. and standard haemogram. In 27 dogs (90.0%) the
blood group DEA 1.1., was found, which is a significantly higher percentage than in all investigations to date. It
was observed that the average values of all haematological indicators were within physiological parameters.
Key words: blood group, Croatian sheepdog, haemogram, biochemical indicators
Introduction
The Croatian sheepdog is an indigenous Croatian dog, and according to credible data,
was bred and used by Croatian tribes in their former historical homeland, and brought
with them to their new homeland some 13 centuries ago. This animal has proved to be an
exceptionally useful working dog, not only with sheep but with all animals found in rural
homesteads (Rohr, 1960).
As the thousand-year tradition of extensive livestock breeding is rapidly giving way
to intensive breeding, the Croatian sheepdog is losing its primary role. Increasingly, the
dog is moving from its natural habitat into urban environments, which inevitably leads to
changes - as in its function so, consequently, in its physical and psychological constitution
(ROHR, 1950; ROHR, 1953; ROHR, 1954; ORBAN, 1958). Some authors (ROMIĆ, 1977;
FURY, 2002) have researched certain biochemical, diagnostically significant parameters in
the blood serum of the Croatian sheepdog found in the areas of Đakovo and Županja. Our
efforts have focussed on expanding this research to establishing blood groups, something
that has not been undertaken in Croatia to date.
The available literature tells us that the haematological and biochemical values in
blood of various breeds are not dissimilar to blood groups in individual breeds. However,
certain differences do exist.
So far only ROMIĆ (1977) has set haematological parameters for Croatian sheepdog.
Some of the biochemical indicators in the blood serum of Croatian sheepdog have been
defined by FURY (2002).
Eleven different blood groups comprising eight types (FELDMAN, 1993) have been
identified in dogs. Initially, blood groups were designated by letters (Am B, C, D, E, F, G,
K, L, M, N, Tr, o, He), but today blood groups in dogs are designated by the DEA system
(Dog Erythrocyte Antigen) - DEA 1 to DEA 8 (KOHN et al., 1998; FELDMAN, 1993).
Blood group DEA 1 has two sub-groups: DEA 1.1. and DEA 1.2. (KOHN et al., 1998).
Swisher and YOUNG (1961) determined the percentage of blood group DEA 1.1. in 332
cross-breeds, arriving at 44.6%. SWISHER et al. (1973) established the presence of blood
group DEA 1.1. in 40% of tested dogs. SUZUKI et al. (1975) tested 61 dogs and established
that 36% of them possessed blood group DEA 1.1. The percentage of the same DEA 1.1.
blood group investigated by WRIESENDORP et al. (1976) was 37% in cross-breeds, 43.4%
in beagles and 29% in retrievers. EJIMA et al. (1986) tested 224 dogs in order to establish
blood groups and found that 33% had the same blood group. Two-thirds of dogs tested
were mongrels. KOHN et al., (1998) tested a group of 88 dogs and found that 52% of them
also had blood group DEA 1.1.
GIGER et al. (1995), and KOHN et al. (1998), offer an interesting item of information,
whereby the variations in the percentage of blood group DEA 1.1. could be due to
geographical differences.
Materials and methods
Blood samples from 95 adult Croatian sheepdogs: 48 females and 47 males ranging
from 1 to 12 years of age were taken to establish biochemical profiles in serum for kidneys
(urea, creatinine), liver (total proteins, total bilirubin, AST - aspartate aminotransferase,
ALT - alanine aminotransferase), pancreas (glucose in blood, amylase), bones (calcium,
phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase) and muscles (creatine kinase).
Research on blood groups and haematology involved 30 pure-bred Croatian
sheepdogs: 21 females and 9 males ranging from 2 to 12 years of age.
All dogs had blood samples taken from the blood vessel v. cephalica antebrachii into
sub-pressurised tests tubes containing anticoagulant in order to perform a complete blood
test and to establish blood groups.
Test tubes containing a gel were used for determining biochemical parameters in
blood serum. Haematological indicators were determined by using the haematological
Coulter Counter; biochemical results were obtained using Olympus AV 400 apparatus,
and blood group DEA 1.1. on the basis of the serological agglutination test RapidVet®-
H (Canine DEA 1.1.) (Agrolabo Products, Switzerland). Concurrently with the defining
blood group, the autoagglutination reaction and its intensity were also established.
Results
Table 1. Presence of blood group DEA 1.1 expressed in percentages
DEA 1.1. negative DEA 1.1. positive Total
Number 3 (10%) 27 (90%) 30 (100%)
Table 2. Intensity of positive reaction to blood group DEA 1.1.
Intensity of positive reaction 1+ 2+ 3+ Total
Number of dogs 4 (14.81%) 4 (14.81%) 19 (70.37%) 27 (100%)
Of the 30 Croatian sheepdogs three animals were DEA 1.1. negative - two males
and 1 female (10%), while the remaining 27 dogs (90%) were DEA 1.1. positive (Table
1). Table 2 shows that of the 27 Croatian sheepdogs with a positive reaction 4 (14.81%)
manifested a low intensity reaction, denoted by 1+; four dogs had a medium high intensity
reaction, (2+), while 19 dogs (70.37%) manifested intensity reaction 3+.
Table 3. Results of statistical processing of all haematological indicators (n = 30)
M SD Min Max Median Mode
Erythrocytes 1012/L 6.7 0.97 4.87 9.01 6.76 N/D
Haemoglobin g/L 162.73 0.97 116.0 189.0 170 184
Haematocrit (PCV) 51.36 6.68 33.50 59.8 52.10 55.90
MCV fL 81.33 10.45 73 130 79.5 74
Leucocytes 109/L 14.67 3.22 9.55 22.56 14.12 13.07
- eosinophilic 0.06 0.0584 0 0.24 0.04 0.02
- non-segment 0.07 0.0424 0 0.16 0.07 0.08
- segment 0.55 0.1888 0.22 0.94 0.54 0.56
- lymphocytes 0.26 0.1426 0 0.5 0.25 0.42
- monocytes 0.03 0.0361 0 0.12 0.02 0
Sed. 1 (15 min) 0.30 0.7022 0 3 0 0
Sed. 2 (30 min) 0.83 1.3667 0 5 0 0
Sed. 3 (60 min) 2.63 2.2512 0 8 2.00 1
Sed. 4 (120 min) 5.20 5.0704 0 25 4.5 6
Table 4. Results of the statistical processing of all biochemical indicators (n = 95)
M SD Min Max Median Mode
Urea mmol/L 5.2 1.87 1.9 8.4 4.8 4.2
Creatinine μmol/L 84.43 25.68 33 144 88 88
Total protein g/L 61.11 6.85 42 84 61 58
Glucose mmol/L 4.13 0.62 2.8 5.4 4.2 4.2
Total bilirubin μ/mol/L 2.27 1.46 0.1 5.1 2.4 0.4
AST IU 24.82 8.93 11 48 23 22
ALT IU 22.53 9.2 7 44 22 22
AP IU 55.62 23.3 10 122 54 48
CK IU 30.72 9.93 16 88 30 22
Amylase IU 1307.96 246.96 626 1842 1282 998
Ca mmol/L 2.50 0.27 1.92 3.76 2.46 2.46
P mmol/L 1.30 0.18 0.98 1.98 1.28 1.22
As with haematological indicators, all average values of investigated biochemical
parameters were found to be within the values accepted as physiological (Table 3 and 4)
Discussion
Of a total of 30 investigated blood samples, the blood group DEA 1.1. was found in 27
(90%) of them. The given percentage of this blood group is considerably higher in relation
to data published to date. The presence of blood group 1.1. in dogs has been researched
by a relatively small number of authors, and results obtained so far are disparate. Thus,
SWISHER and YOUNG (1961) tested 332 dogs of various breeds for the presence of blood
group DEA 1.1. and established the group in 44.6% of animals, SUZUKI et al. (1975)
carried out tests in 61 dogs and found that 36% had blood group DEA 1.1.
A small number of authors researched the percentage of blood group DEA 1.1. within
specific dog breeds. WRIESENDORP et al. (1976) found positive DEA1.1. in 43.4% of
beagles, 29% of retrievers and 37% of cross-breeds. GIGER (1991) and KOHN et al. (1998)
claim that the percentage incidence blood group DEA 1.1. can also be influenced by an
insufficient number of dogs tested, as well as by selection within individual breeds, i.e.
possible inbreeding.
Our findings could be the result of inbreeding and a more pronounced homozygosity
in that particular property. There is also the possibility that due to the fact that in the
last 40 years different methods of blood group testing have been used, their results are
difficult to correlate.
In comparing the average values for haematological indicators in blood of Croatian
sheepdog and the referential values (SHALM et al., 2000), no changes were observed. Similar
results were obtained by ROMIĆ (1977) in his research of haematological parameters in
Croatian sheepdog. If one bears in mind that blood samples were taken in December, and
that the majority of dogs live outdoors, it is possible that leucocytes were increased due to
infection of the upper respiratory passages, which is a frequent occurrence in winter.
Comparison of the average values of the investigated biochemical parameters with
the referential values (KANEKO et. al., 1997) also did not yield any different findings.
When observing all the individual values it can be noticed that the gap between the lowest
and the highest values has narrowed in relation to the referential values we use.
It can therefore be said that the values represent the breed characteristics of the
Croatian sheepdog, and can be used by clinicians in their assessment of the health of
individual organs or organ systems.
In conclusion, the established percentage of blood group DEA 1.1. in the tested
dogs was 90%, which is a higher incidence than given in the literature published to date.
Comparison of average values of haematological indicators in the blood of Croatian
sheepdogs against the referential values does not indicate changes. Comparison between
the average values of investigated biochemical parameters and the referential values
does point to certain shifts. Although the values found are within the standard range, a
visible narrowing of the gap separating the observed lowest and highest statistical values
is apparent. Those values represent the breed characteristics of the Croatian sheepdog,
and can be used by clinicians in their assessment of the health of individual organs and
organ systems.
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ŽUBČIĆ, D., LJ. BEDRICA, D. GRAČNER, I. HARAPIN, M. FURY, J. JEREMIĆ:
Krvne grupe, hematološki i biokemijski pokazatelji u autohtonih pasmina pasa. I.
Hrvatski ovčar. Vet. arhiv 78, 141-147, 2008.
SAŽETAK
U uzorcima krvi 95 pasa hrvatskih ovčara, 48 ženki i 47 mužjaka u dobi od jedne do 12 godina istraženi su neki biokemijski pokazatelji (ureja, kreatinin, ukupne bjelančevine, glukoza, ukupni bilirubin, AST, ALT, alkalna fosfataza, kreatinska kinaza, amilaza, Ca, P). Vrijednosti biokemijskih pokazatelja bile su unutar fizioloških granica. U 30 pasa iz te skupine također je određivana krvna grupa (DEA, engl. Dog Erythrocyte
Antigen) 1.1. i standardni hemogram. U 27 pasa (90%) utvrđena je krvna grupa DEA1.1., što je značajno više od do sada objavljenih rezultata. Vrijednosti hematoloških pokazatelja bile su unutar fizioloških granica.
