Blood Group Homologues in Orangutans and Gorillas of the Human Rh-Hr and the Chimpanzee C-E-F Systems

Abstract

In a previous study on homologues of the human Rh-Hr types in apes, weak agglutination of orangutan red cells by human anti-Rh_o and anti-hr’ sera was observed. Lack of adequate amounts of orangutan red cells needed for absorption experiments did not allow to ascertain whether the weak reactions were due to variants of the Rh_o and hr’ factors on orangutan red cells or to anti-species (species-specific) agglutinins against orangutan red cells in the human typing sera. The present experiments indicate that homologues of the human blood factors Rh_ohr’ as well as rh’, rh” and hr” are lacking in orangutan red cells which are, therefore, comparable to the human Rh null red cells. In the search for homologues of chimpanzee C-E-F blood groups in other ape species, tests on 15 gorillas disclosed the presence in gorillas of polymorphism for C^c and F^c while C^c antithetical to C^cin chimpanzees, as well E^c were both found to be absent from gorilla red cells.

Blood Groups of Macaques: a Comparative Study

“…It is noteworthy that similar, seemingly contradictory conclusions result from comparison of the blood groups of two species of apes: chimpanzee and gorilla. While simian‐type blood groups of gorillas (as defined by cross‐reactive chimpanzee isoimmune antisera) seemed to be similar to those of chimpanzees [10], their human‐type blood groups were found to be quite different. Chimpanzees fall into two groups, A or O, depending on the type of reaction of their red cells with human anti‐A and anti‐B sera, and anti‐H lectin.…”

Blood Groups of Crab-Eating Macaques (Macaco fascicularis) Demonstrated by Isoimmune Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta) Sera

“…Thus, all rhesus monkeys tested by us have belonged to group B while crab‐eating macaques also have groups A and AB and rarely even group O, yet the red cells of these two species of macaques are hardly distinguishable as far as their simian‐type antigens are concerned. A parallel situation exists in the case of two anthropoid ape species, chimpanzees and gorillas [7]. In this case, the gorillas are all of one and the same human‐type blood group B, while chimpanzees are polymorphic and have the two blood groups A and O.…”

“…One of the most notable examples among numerous studies was the determination in gorillas of polymorphism for the chimpanzee simian-type blood group system C-E-F- [7].…”

“…Beginning with our early work, we have continued to use reagents prepared in one primate species for testing other species for their serum protein specificities [2] as well as blood groups. One of the most notable examples among numerous studies was the determination in gorillas of polymorphism for the chimpanzee simian‐type blood group system C‐E‐F‐ [7].…”

Blood Groups of Gorillas: Further Observations

“…Because of the rare availability of blood from gorillas, the knowledge of their blood groups is limited; in fact, no significant reports on this subject have come to our attention aside from our own results, the last one published in 1973 [2, 4, 7]. Our findings so far were based on tests on 23 lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) but on only two mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei).…”