Identical genetic basis for lymphosarcoma and hemolytic anemia in the rabbit

Tests for identity of ha (hemolytic anemia) and ls (lymphosarcoma) in the rabbit show that they are both allelic and identical by descent and that the two different conditions result from interaction of these genes with the host genotype. Hemolytic anemia is the primary cause of death in compound heterozygotes (ha/ls) with increasing lympho-proliferative disease with age. Ages at death of histologically confirmed affected rabbits range from 5 days to 22.5 monts with an average of 10.5 months. The symbol ha will now be used to represent the gene for either disorder.