Genetic polymorphism of eserine resistant esterases in canine plasma*

Abstract

Six plasma eserine resistant esterase phenotypes were observed in a population of 1438 dogs consisting of 38 breeds. Analysis of parentage records of the dogs examined revealed that the phentoypic variation of eserine resistant esterases was controlled by 3 codominant alleles EsA, EsB and EsC at 1 autosomal locus. The gene frequency fo EsB was high in most of the breeds examined. Allele EsC was only seen in 5 Japanese native breeds (Akita, Shikoku, Hokkaido, Shinshu-Shiba and Mino-Shiba) and in a Spitz dog. Allele EsA has a low frequency in Japanese breeds, but a higher frequency in some of the European breeds tested.