A novel method for rapid and reliable detection of complex vertebral malformation and bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency in Holstein cattle

Background

Complex vertebral malformation (CVM) and bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD) are two autosomal recessive lethal genetic defects frequently occurring in Holstein cattle, identifiable by single nucleotide polymorphisms. The objective of this study is to develop a rapid and reliable genotyping assay to screen the active Holstein sires and determine the carrier frequency of CVM and BLAD in Chinese dairy cattle population.

Results

We developed real-time PCR-based assays for discrimination of wild-type and defective alleles, so that carriers can be detected. Only one step was required after the DNA extraction from the sample and time consumption was about 2 hours. A total of 587 Chinese Holstein bulls were assayed, and fifty-six CVM-carriers and eight BLAD-carriers were identified, corresponding to heterozygote carrier frequencies of 9.54% and 1.36%, respectively. The pedigree analysis showed that most of the carriers could be traced back to the common ancestry, Osborndale Ivanhoe for BLAD and Pennstate Ivanhoe Star for CVM.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that real-time PCR is a simple, rapid and reliable assay for BLAD and CVM defective allele detection. The high frequency of the CVM allele suggests that implementing a routine testing system is necessary to gradually eradicate the deleterious gene from the Chinese Holstein population.     

Screening for bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency,deficiency of uridine monophosphate synthase,complex vertebral malformation,bovine citrullinaemia,and factor XI deficiency in Holstein cows reared in Turkey

Background

Bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD), deficiency of uridine monophosphate synthase (DUMPS), complex vertebral malformation (CVM), bovine citrullinaemia (BC) and factor XI deficiency (FXID) are autosomal recessive hereditary disorders, which have had significant economic impact on dairy cattle breeding worldwide. In this study, 350 Holstein cows reared in Turkey were screened for BLAD, DUMPS, CVM, BC and FXID genotypes to obtain an indication on the importance of these defects in Turkish Holsteins.

Methods

Genomic DNA was obtained from blood and the amplicons of BLAD, DUMPS, CVM, BC and FXID were obtained by using PCR. PCR products were digested with TaqI, AvaI and AvaII restriction enzymes for BLAD, DUMPS, and BC, respectively. These digested products and PCR product of FXID were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis stained with ethidium bromide. CVM genotypes were detected by DNA sequencing. Additionally, all genotypes were confirmed by DNA sequencing to determine whether there was a mutant allele or not.

Results

Fourteen BLAD, twelve CVM and four FXID carriers were found among the 350 Holstein cows examined, while carriers of DUMPS and BC were not detected. The mutant allele frequencies were calculated as 0.02, 0.017, and 0.006 for BLAD, CVM and FXID, respectively with corresponding carrier prevalence of 4.0% (BLAD), 3.4% (CVM) and 1.2% (FXID).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that carriers of BLAD, CVM and FXID are present in the Turkish Holstein population, although at a low frequency. The actual number of clinical cases is unknown, but sporadic cases may appear. As artificial insemination is widely used in dairy cattle breeding, carriers of BLAD, CVM and FXID are likely present within the population of breeding sires. It is recommended to screen breeding sires for these defective genes in order to avoid an unwanted spread within the population.     

天津地区荷斯坦公牛CVM、DUMPS和CN遗传缺陷检测

本文旨在研究天津地区中国荷斯坦公牛脊椎畸形综合征（Complex vertebral malformation,CVM）、尿苷酸合酶缺乏症（Deftciencv of uridine monophospham synchase,DUMPS）和瓜氨酸血症（Citrullinemia,CN）3种遗传缺陷的携带者比率及系谱来源。通过PIRA—PCR和PCR—RFLP方法分别对天津奶牛发展中心参加全国青年公牛联合后裔测定和国家良种补贴项目的110头荷斯坦公牛进行了CVM、DUMPS和CN三种遗传缺陷检测。共发现6头CVM隐性有害基因携带公牛,携带者比例为5．45％,隐性有害等位基因频率为2．72％。经过系谱分析,其中4头CVM携带者均为美国公牛Carlin—MIvanhoeBell的后代,另外2头因系谱不完整而无法查询。未检测到DuMPs和CN隐性有害基因携带者。基于此,我国有必要尽快建立荷斯坦牛隐性遗传缺陷监控体系并进行系谱标注,避免携带公牛进入后裔测定和良种补贴项目,以逐步降低我国奶牛群体中遗传缺陷隐性等位基因频率。     

Identification of complex vertebral malformation carriers in Chinese Holstein.

Complex vertebral malformation (CVM) is a monogenic autosomal recessive hereditary defect of Holstein dairy cattle. It is caused by a point mutation from G to T at the nucleotide position 559 in bovine solute carrier family 35, member 3 gene (SLC35A3), which changes the amino acid sequence of uridine 5'-diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine transporter protein from a valine to a phenylalanine in position 180. The elite U.S. Holstein sire Penstate Ivanhoe Star was identified as the common ancestor of the current CVM carriers. Because his offspring, mainly those of Carlin-M Ivanhoe Bell, were used in many countries, CVM has potentially spread into China. In the present study, using the polymerase chain reaction-single-stranded conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) technique, 10 CVM carriers were found among 68 at-risk Chinese Holstein bulls, and 282 carriers were found among 602 at-risk cows. The results of this study indicate that the CVM gene exists in the Chinese Holstein population.     

中国荷斯坦种公牛BLAD遗传缺陷的分子检测及系谱分析

本试验运用限制性片段长度多态性聚合酶链式反应（RFLP-PCR）方法,检测我国荷斯坦种公牛白细胞粘附缺陷（bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency,BLAD）基因的携带频率。共检测了来自全国14个公牛站的587头种公牛,发现BLAD携带者8头,携带率为1.36%。对现有公牛系谱信息分析显示,携带者公牛来自美国、加拿大和中国,其中6头携带者公牛可以追溯到共同祖先Osborndale Ivanhoe。此外,本研究还对我国荷斯坦牛遗传缺陷的控制和携带者公牛的利用提出建议。     

Detection of bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD) in Turkish native and Holstein cattle

The purpose of this work was to study whether the bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD) allele is present in native cattle breeds and the Holstein breed in Turkey. Blood samples were obtained from 120 Holstein, 20 Brown Swiss, 20 Anatolian Black, 20 Turkish Grey, 20 South Anatolian Red and 20 East Anatolian Red cattle. The isolated DNA materials were multiplied in PCR using the primer developed by Kriegesmann et al. (1997). In order to determine the area of mutation in PCR products, the PCR products were digested with TaqI endonuclease enzyme. The resulting fragments were analysed on 2% agarose gel for the absence of a TaqI restriction site. It was found that two of the Holstein cattle (a bull and a cow) were heterozygote BLAD carriers. There was no homozygote BLAD animal. The BLAD allele was not found in the other breeds used in the study. The mutant BLAD allele frequency in the 120 Holstein cattle calculations was 0.0084.     

部分中国荷斯坦种公牛脊柱畸形综合征携带状况的检测和分析

摘本研究旨在对部分中国荷斯坦种公牛脊柱畸形综合征(Complex vertebral malformation,CVM)致病基因的携带状况进行筛查.应用错配PCR突变分析技术(PCR mismatch amplification mutation assay,PCR-MAMA)建立了针对CVM致病基因的特异性检测方法.利用PCR-MAMA法检测了154头荷斯坦种公牛,发现了24头CVM阳性个体,阳性率为15.58％.结果显示,应对中国荷斯坦种公牛进行全面的针对CVM的检测.     

中国荷斯坦牛白细胞粘附缺陷病遗传分析

荷斯坦牛白细胞粘附缺陷病（BLAD）是一种遗传性免疫缺陷病，患病牛出生后，生长发育差，绝大多数在1年内死亡，且不具繁殖和哺育能力。该病的遗传基础为CD18基因编码区383位的A／G点突变导致白细胞表面的β2整合素表达缺陷。目前欧美等奶牛业发达国家都已经建立了完善的BLAD分子检测方法和跟踪监控体系。中国长期从国外进口荷斯坦公牛精液、胚胎或活体，由此可能引进了BLAD基因。本研究采用PCR—RFLP方法对116头可疑中国荷斯坦牛进行了检测．确定了2头BLAD携带者公牛和8头携带者母牛．未发现隐性纯合个体．     

牛白细胞黏附缺陷病液相基因芯片检测方法的建立

从福建某奶牛场200头进口荷斯坦牛采血提取牛血液DNA，根据已知牛染色体上CD18编码基因序列383位基由A变为G而引起牛白细胞黏附缺陷症（BLAD）设计特异性野生型和突变型引物，建立液相基因芯片检测方法用于牛白细胞黏附缺陷症（BLAD）的检测，结果检出2头母牛为BLAD携带者，检出率为0．67％，没有发现患病牛。结果证明建立的液相基因芯片检测方法是一种敏感性和特异性很高的筛选奶牛BLAD有害基因的新方法     

荷斯坦牛脊椎畸形综合征分子诊断方法的建立与应用

脊椎畸形综合征(Complex Vertebral Malformation,CVM)是由常染色体上SLC35A3基因单碱基突变(G→T)引起的隐性遗传疾病,该基因隐性纯合(CV/CV)时奶牛致死,但CVM携带者表现正常,所以CVM携带者公牛可以通过人工授精技术传播CVM缺陷基因。本研究自行设计检测CVM特异性PCR引物,扩增长度为173bp,然后利用PCR-SSCP方法对186个公牛样品和140个母牛样品进行了检测分析,该方法简便快捷、准确率高,使用样品宽泛,适合大样本筛选。研究结果表明,在所检测的样本中,荷斯坦种公牛和母牛CVM携带率分别为11.3%和12.1%,并通过系谱追踪发现,CVM遗传缺陷的共同祖先是美国名牛"Penstate Ivanhoe Star"(USA.1441440,CV)。通过剔除CVM携带者公牛可以有效地控制CVM遗传缺陷,但是,我国许多CVM携带者公牛冻精依然在商业化使用,所以,有效地监控CVM携带者在奶牛群中的状况对CVM防控计划是有益的。     

Bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD): a review

Bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD) in Holstein cattle is an autosomal recessive congenital disease characterized by recurrent bacterial infections, delayed wound healing and stunted growth, and is also associated with persistent marked neutrophilia. The molecular basis of BLAD is a single point mutation (adenine to guanine) at position 383 of the CD18 gene, which caused an aspartic acid to glycine substitution at amino acid 128 (D128G) in the adhesion molecule CD18. Neutrophils from BLAD cattle have impaired expression of the beta2 integrin (CD11a,b,c/CD18) of the leukocyte adhesion molecule. Abnormalities in a wide spectrum of adherence dependent functions of leukocytes have been fully characterized. Cattle affected with BLAD have severe ulcers on oral mucous membranes, severe periodontitis, loss of teeth, chronic pneumonia and recurrent or chronic diarrhea. Affected cattle die at an early age due to the infectious complications. Holstein bulls, including carrier sires that had a mutant BLAD gene in heterozygote were controlled from dairy cattle for a decade. The control of BLAD in Holstein cattle by publishing the genotypes and avoiding the mating between BLAD carriers was found to be successful. This paper provides an overview of the genetic disease BLAD with reference to the disease in Holstein cattle.     

北京地区荷斯坦牛脊椎畸形综合征的调查研究

脊椎畸形综合征（Complex Vertebral Malformation,CVM）是由常染色体上SLC35A3基因单碱基突变（G→T）引起的隐性遗传疾病,该基因隐性纯合（CV/CV）时奶牛致死,但CVM携带者表现正常,所以CVM携带者公牛可以通过人工授精技术传播CVM缺陷基因。本研究利用PCR-SSCP方法对北京地区242头公牛样品和403头母牛样品进行了检测分析,研究结果表明,在所检测的样本中,荷斯坦种公牛和母牛CVM携带率分别为8.82%和5.71%,CVM基因频率分别为4.41%和2.85%。通过系谱追踪发现,CVM遗传缺陷的共同祖先是美国名牛＂Penstate Ivanhoe Star＂（USA.1441440,CV）。通过剔除CVM携带者公牛可以有效地控制CVM遗传缺陷的传播,但是,我国许多CVM携带者公牛冻精依然在商业化使用,所以有效地监控CVM携带者在奶牛群中的状况对CVM防控计划是有益的。     

Bovine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency in Danish Holstein-Friesian Cattle: I. PCR Screening and Allele Frequency Estimation

Jergensen, C. B., J. S. Agerholm, J. Pedersen and P. D. Thomsen: Bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency in Danish Holstein-Friesian Cattle I. PCR screening and allele frequency estimation. Acta vet. Scand. 1993,34,231-236.–A screening program for bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD) in Danish Holstein-Friesian cattle has been initiated. During the first months 1611 animals were tested by a PCR based assay. Of these animals 1256, 346, and 8 were assigned normal, BLAD carriers, and BLAD affected animals, respectively One bull, born as a co-twin, showed weak reaction for the BLAD allele on DNA isolated from leukocytes, but a normal genotype on DNA isolated from semen. Chromosome analysis showed that this bull was a blood chimaera. Estimation of the BLAD allele frequency upon the PCR test results showed that around 450 Danish calves born in 1991 might have been affected with the recessive disorder.     

奶牛单基因遗传缺陷研究进展

综述了奶牛遗传缺陷病的危害、种类及遗传方式。对世界荷斯坦联盟和加拿大奶牛协会官方要求在奶牛上系谱注明检测结果的6种遗传缺陷病,脊椎畸形综合症、白细胞粘附缺陷症、牛尿苷酸合酶缺乏症、瓜氨酸血症、凝血因子XI缺陷症（Factor XI）、并趾症也称为骡蹄症的最新研究进展进行了概述。     

Comparison of milk production of the progeny of BLAD-carrier and healthy Holstein bulls in Hungary.

'Bovine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency' (BLAD) is a recessive monofactorial, lethal inheritable defect occurring in Holstein-Friesian cattle and often passed on by well-known top bulls. The aim of this study was to find a relationship between the BLAD genotype of bulls, their genetic evaluation for milk and their daughters' milk production. BLAD-carrier and healthy bulls were compared on the basis of their breeding value published in November 1997. The first 100 bulls ranked according to the Total Production Index (TPI) were used, including nine BLAD carriers with 2,835 daughters and 77 healthy sires with 21,950 female progenies. For 14 bulls the BLAD genotype was not indicated. The healthy animals significantly outperformed the BLAD carriers, which result contradicts our earlier findings (Dohy et al., 1996; Jánosa and Dohy, 1997). In a BLAD elimination programme, the identification of BLAD carriers and properly planned mating are of great importance in order to avoid 'inter se' mating of BLAD-carrier top animals which can be of significant influence in Holstein breeding.     

Genetic Description of Factor XI Deficiency in Holstein Semen in Western Japan

Factor XI deficiency was detected in Holstein cows and mummified foetuses in Japan; however, no report is available about the occurrence of Factor XI deficiency in Holstein semen in Japan. Five hundred cows in twelve dairy farms in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan were under the study. Genomic DNA was extracted from the cows using a commercial DNA kits and screened to Factor XI mutation. Based on the information of the carrier cows found in the cattle population, four Holstein bulls were analysed for Factor XI mutation. DNA was extracted from bull's semen using phenol chloroform method. Extracted genomic DNA of the bull's semen was typed for Factor XI using specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers. The resultant PCR was sequenced using big dye terminator sequencing method. The pedigree of the bulls was investigated. Furthermore, the inheritance of Factor XI mutation to next generation was estimated. Out of the 500 cows, five were heterozygous to Factor XI. Moreover, out of the four bulls, one was found to carry the mutation of Factor XI; it was also a complex vertebral malformation (CVM) carrier. In DNA sequencing, the insertion mutation of 76 bp of poly-adenine that characterizes the Factor XI deficiency was detected in the carrier bull as well as the carrier cows. Pedigree analysis of the carrier bull revealed that his father and mother ID were 2247419A and 14189172A, respectively, that originated from USA Holstein. Out of six daughter cows born to the carrier bull, one cow (16.6%) inherited Factor XI mutation, while three of them (50.0%) inherited CVM mutation. Autosomal recessive genes that affect cow's reproduction have a particular concern to dairy industry. To our knowledge this is the first report of Factor XI mutation in Holstein semen in Japan.     

A method for detecting complex vertebral malformation in Holstein calves using polymerase chain reaction-primer introduced restriction analysis.

Complex vertebral malformation (CVM), a hereditary lethal disease in Holstein calves, is characterized by complex anomalies of the vertebral column and limbs in an aborted fetus and in prematurely born, stillborn, and neonatal calves. The mode of inheritance of CVM is autosomal recessive, and CVM is caused by a point mutation from G to T at nucleotide position 559 of the bovine solute carrier family 35 member 3 (SLC35A3) gene. Although an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) is a useful method for diagnosis of CVM, the AS-PCR requires selected DNA polymerases and strictly controlled reaction conditions to obtain reliable results. Therefore, an alternative screening method for the CVM gene would be useful. Polymerase chain reaction-primer introduced restriction analysis (PCR-PIRA) is a method that can be used for detecting a single nucleotide mutation in any gene without a restriction site around the mutation site. In this study, primers were designed to introduce PstI or EcoT22 sites into PCR products from the wild-type and CVM alleles, respectively. The wild-type allele, a heterozygote, and a homozygote of the CVM allele could be discriminated by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Specific introduction of restriction sites into PCR products depending on the change in a single nucleotide of template was shown using a variety of DNA polymerases and PCR machines. Therefore, the PCR-PIRA technique using primers designed in this study might provide a more useful method for extensive screening of CVM.     

Ovarian Cyclicity and Reproductive Performance of Holstein Cows Carrying the Mutation of Complex Vertebral Malformation in Japan

This study was carried out on 71 lactating Holstein Friesian cows to investigate the resumption of ovarian cyclicity postpartum and the reproductive performance in cows carrying the mutation of complex vertebral malformation (CVM) compared with control ones. The cows were distributed in two dairy farms in Hiroshima Prefecture, Western Japan. Blood samples were collected from the cows to detect carrier cows with CVM mutation. Furthermore, plasma samples were collected weekly after calving from control cows (n = 10) and CVM carrier cows (n = 10), until 10 weeks postpartum to investigate the day of first ovulation and the resumption of ovarian cyclicity postpartum. The reproductive parameters were investigated and compared with control and CVM carrier cows. Thirty‐six cows were diagnosed to be CVM carriers by DNA examination and confirmed later by DNA sequencing. The pedigree analysis of the carrier cows revealed that they were daughters of six types of CVM carrier semen that still was used in dairy farms in Western Japan. In terms of reproductive indices, there were no significant differences between the control and the CVM carrier cows on the day of the first ovulation postpartum and the interval from calving to first insemination. However, CVM carrier cows significantly required more inseminations per conception and showed a significantly longer period to conception and subsequent calving than control ones. In conclusion, the reproductive performance of the CVM carrier cows was lowered through conception failure that might indicate the occurrence of intra‐uterine mortality in those cows.     

中国荷斯坦奶牛OPN基因内含子4多态性及其与产奶性状的相关分析

研究采用PCR产物直接测序的方法,对278头中国荷斯坦奶牛的OPN基因内含子4进行单核苷酸多态性分析,并研究了不同基因型与产奶性状的相关关系。结果表明:OPN基因内含子4有TT、CT和CC 3种基因型,基因型频率分别为0.3309、0.5108和0.1583;该位点突变处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态,且PIC为0.3676;CC基因型与中国荷斯坦奶牛的乳脂率和乳蛋白率呈显著相关。说明C等位基因对泌乳性状具有加性效应,OPN基因可以作为中国荷斯坦奶牛泌乳性状的候选基因。     

荷斯坦牛新遗传缺陷单倍型HH7分子筛查

HH7(Holstein Haplotype 7)是在荷斯坦牛群中新发现的一种隐性遗传缺陷单倍型,由27号染色体上CENPU基因4个碱基缺失突变引起,隐性基因纯合时能引起胚胎早期流产,严重影响着奶牛养殖者的经济效益。本研究利用竞争性等位基因特异性PCR(KASP法)对随机抽取的166头荷斯坦公牛样本进行了检测分析,结果表明,在所检测的荷斯坦公牛中未发现HH7携带者个体。提示新缺陷单倍型HH7在北京地区的荷斯坦牛群中比例可能很低,但在全国牛群中的分布情况尚不清楚,建议继续开展相关研究,并在种牛遗传物质引进时重点关注,避免将新缺陷基因引入进来,造成有害基因的广泛传播。