Studies to detect carriers of haemophilia A in German shepherd dogs using diagnostic DNA polymorphisms in the human factor VIII gene.

The current study investigated whether the DNA polymorphisms in the human FVIII gene, that are used for the diagnosis of carriers of haemophilia A, were diagnostically useful in dogs. Genomic DNA from 20 German Shepherd dogs (13 females, three normal males and four haemophilic males) was tested using five restriction site polymorphisms [HindIII/F8 (exon 17-18), Taq I/ST14.1, BclI/ST14.1, BclI F8 (exon 17-18) and Bgl II/DX13]. The DNA probes (with the exception of DX13) all hybridized to the canine DNA at high stringency, indicating significant homology between the human and canine FVIII gene. A BclI polymorphism (13.5/13.5 + 12.8 kb) was detected with the ST14.1 probe.