The study aimed to evaluate the utility of blood protein systems of
the Yugoslav Shepherd dog as genetic markers for parentage
verification in this breed. Polymorphism of hemoglobin (Hb), acid
phosphatase (Acp), superoxide dismutase (Sod), albumin (Al), and
transferrin (Tf) was analysed by vertical polyacrylamide gel
electrophoresis in 60 blood samples. Out of the five tested markers, Hb
was the only monomorphic and, thus, of no value for parentage analysis
in the Yugoslav Shepherd dog. The Acp, Sod and Al loci exhibited a
certain degree of polymorphism, but their efficiency as single markers
for parentage control was relatively low. The paternity exclusion
probabilities established were 12.7%, 15.5% and 16.6% for Acp, Sod
and Al, respectively. Tf as a genetic marker displayed a significantly
higher efficacy since it was able to reach the 49% power of exclusion
for parentage verification. Joined parentage exclusion probability for a
panel of four protein systems displaying polymorphism, Acp, Sod, Al
and Tf, was 68.5%. In comparison with results of previous studies
investigating blood protein systems as markers for canine parentage
testing, the panel of markers tested in our study displayed high
discriminatory power and provided a substantial probability of
resolution in parentage verification for the Yugoslav Shepherd dog.