With in the 62 so far typed Boxer we could determine 4 different haplotypes. Haplotype 4 was only found in a male boxer in spring 2020. That is, 61 boxers have only 3 haplotypes.
In a publication of Dr. Kennedy (Canine DLA diversity: New alleles and haplotypes) from 2007 he was able to determine in 41 tested Boxer 5 different haplotypes. He paid special attention to include Boxer from different geographical regions, which could explain that he found two additional haplotypes in comparison with our actual study.
Our tested Boxers came in the majority from Austria, Germany and only a few from Italy, Spain and France. In general scientific related studies assuming an average of 7 different Haplotypes within a breed.
This figure can diverge up (higher diversity) and down (less diversity). Within the combination of the genes there is often a different spread which means we can very often find so called dominant haplotypes. These are the most common haplotypes within a population, followed by the less often ones.
A dominant haplotype within the boxer has been found which is common for 55,8% of all tested dogs within the breed. The both other haplotypes could be determined in a frequency of 25,6% and 18,6%. The spread of the gene combination can be influenced by using many relative dogs.
The reason for this is that related dogs have more likely the same haplotypes as entirely non-related dogs. The haplotypes are named in three combinations of figures, which are a primary interest of biologists. I is interesting for the breeder if the dog is homozygotic or heterozygotic, meaning if he has two similar of two different gene combinations. For homozygotic dogs the combination of figures isthe same as for the heterozygotic dogs it is different.
A mating of two homozygotic dogs with a different homocygotic combination will bring a 100% heterocygotic progeny.Which means the information given by the DLA typing can be used for breeding.