Genetic polymorphism of rabbit VHa region: a new allotype, a108

We report a new rabbit IgVH allotype, designated a108, which was detected following studies of the progeny of a wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from Zembra Island (Tunisia). This allotype seems to be specific of this island, since it has not been detected in other wild rabbit populations (in Spain, Portugal or France). Its determinants are located on the Fd fragment of the immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain and it behaves like the product of an allele at the alpha locus. Allotype a108 was strongly related serologically to a1 and a107, and to a lesser extent to a101, a109 and a3 allotypes. We also detected determinants shared among the a1, a107, a108, a101 and a109 allotypes. These determinants were expressed by a large fraction of Ig molecules from rabbits of allotype a1, a107 and a108 and by a very small fraction of Ig from rabbits of allotype a101 and a109.