avian & livestock genetic test data sheet

Swine blood typing by PCR

Test code: GS001 - Swine A/O blood typing by Polymerase Chain Reaction

Xenotransplantation of pig organs into humans can save the lives of patients suffering from acute organ failure. Selection of xenotransplantation pigs having blood group O can help control acute immune rejection due to differences in blood groups.

In humans, three major alleles (A, B and O) determine blood type. While alleles A and B code for different functional transferases, allele O codes for a non-functional protein.

In pigs there are only A and O alleles, so there can only be two blood types, A and O. Genetic analysis has shown that the porcine A gene is homologous to the ABO genes in humans and other species. It encodes an α1→ 3 N-acetyl-D-galactosaminyltransferase that synthesizes A antigens. However, in blood group O pigs, there is a major deletion in the O gene so that it cannot encode a functional protein.

In the past, blood typing for swine relied on human serological reagents to cross-react with pig blood group antigens. This method can lead to false results, due to differences in antigen structure between pig and human. PCR blood typing designed specifically for swine enables highly specific results (Yeom et al., 2009).

Utilities:

• Identify pigs’ blood type
• Enable breeding of pig colonies with specific blood groups
• Initial evaluation of pig organs for xenotransplantation

References:
Yeom, S.C., Oh, B.C., Cho, S.Y., Park, C.G., Lee, B.C. and Lee, W.J. (2009) Investigation of blood typing method for Seoul National University miniature pig. Transplant Proc. 41:1921-1926.

Specimen requirements: 0.2 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) tube.  Ship blood samples on the same day collected, on cold paks but not frozen, in an insulated container, via standard overnight service, for weekday delivery to Zoologix.  Collect blood samples using a larger-gauge needle, and put the samples immediately in EDTA to avoid hemolysis.

Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 5 business days

Methodology: PCR

Normal range: AA, AO or OO blood type