Prevalence of Dal blood type and dog erythrocyte antigens 1 and 4 among canine blood donors and recipients in Seoul, South Korea.

Background: The demand for blood transfusions in veterinary medicine is increasing in South Korea, particularly for canine patients. While dog erythrocyte antigen (DEA) 1 is a known cause of acute hemolytic reactions, previous studies have underscored the involvement of DEA 4 and Dal. However, research on these crucial antigens remains limited in South Korea compared to North America and Europe, resulting in a knowledge gap concerning transfusion risks. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of the Dal and DEA 1 and 4 blood types among canine blood donors and recipients in Seoul. Residual blood samples were collected from 105 donor and recipient dogs admitted to the Konkuk Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital between April and September 2023. The DEA type 1 blood type was identified using immunochromatographic strip technology, while Dal and DEA 4 blood types were determined through agglutination reactions on specialized test cards.

Results: Among the 105 dogs, 74 (70.48%) tested positive for DEA 1, 97 (92.38%) were DEA 4-positive, and 81 (77.14%) were Dal-positive. Some breeds not previously associated with Dal-negative outcomes, including nine Labrador Retrievers, five Golden Retrievers, a Shepherd, a Siberian Husky, an American Bully, a Miniature Poodle, and a Pungsan dog, tested negative for Dal on agglutination tests. Similarly, three Labrador Retrievers, three Golden Retrievers, one Samoyed, and one Doberman Pinscher tested negative for DEA 4. Larger breeds generally exhibited a lower prevalence for all tested blood types. The prevalence of DEA 1 observed in this study (70.48%) is consistent with prior studies; however, Dal and DEA 4 exhibited lower prevalence rates than those reported in Europe and North Americas, with Dal at 77.14% (compared to 89.3-100%) and DEA 4 at 92.38% (compared to 98.8-100%). Notably, breeds such as Labrador Retrievers, the most represented breed in our sample, exhibited low prevalence, suggesting that they may be an optimal donor in Seoul.

Conclusion: The distributions of DEA 1, DEA 4, and Dal blood types may reveal distinct prevalence patterns in Seoul, South Korea, possibly due to geographical differences, as existing data primarily reflect findings from European and North American.