Major histocompatibility complex typing of dogs from Russia shows further dog leukocyte antigen diversity

Blood samples from 85 Russian dogs and wolves were collected as dried blood spots on paper and transported to the UK by mail. We obtained partial or complete three-locus canine major histocompatibility complex [dog leukocyte antigen (DLA)] class II haplotypes on 81 of these samples. Six new alleles were identified: three DLA-DRB1 and three DLA-DQB1. These alleles occurred in haplotypic combinations not previously seen in other European dogs. One haplotype appeared to lack a DQB1 allele. Two of the new haplotypes segregated through a family of dogs that was investigated.