Serum antigens of cattle. IV. Immunogenetics of a soluble antigenic determinant derived from lysed erythrocytes.

This paper describes an allotypic system in cattle called Ec (Erythrocyte cattle). The antigenic determinant is derived from red cells and is detected in lysates by gel precipitation with alloimmune serum. The Ecl specificity is controlled by an autosomal dominant gene and occurs with variable frequencies in different cattle breeds. The Ec system is a very useful genetic marker because the homozygous and heterozygous genotypes show a dosage effect and can be distinguished by the size of the precipitin rings in double diffusion gel precipitation tests.