Single nucleotide polymorphism detection in promoter III of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase-α gene in sheep

Three novel SNPs were identified in the locus OAR292286, encoding the DNA sequence of promoter III of the ovine acetyl‐CoA carboxylase‐α gene, in Italian sheep of four breeds: Gentile di Puglia (25 individuals) and Sopravissana (31) which are triple‐purpose local endangered breeds, Comisana (25) which is a local non‐selected, non‐endangered dairy breed and Sarda (15) which is a popular selected high yielding dairy breed. Variant alleles are: G/T at 1330 bp, C/G at 1338 bp and C/T at 1430 bp. Frequencies of the variant alleles were calculated and chi‐squared analysis of the differences in allele frequency between breed pairs was performed. Allele frequencies of the Sarda breed differ significantly from the other considered breeds.     

玉树马和德保矮马SLC36A1基因多态性研究

 控制马香槟毛色的CH（Champagne gene）基因家族包含4个候选基因（SLC36A1、SLC36A2、SLC36A3、SPARC）,研究发现SLC36A1基因外显子2的突变是造成马香槟毛色的关键位点。为揭示中国马SLC36A1基因遗传多态性,本研究以玉树马和德保矮马共74个样本为研究对象,以马DNA池为模板扩增SLC36A1基因的10个外显子及部分内含子序列并进行测序分析。共发现马SLC36A1基因5个SNPs,分别位于内含子3（g.26699953 A>G, g.26699851 G>C, g.26699850 G>C）,外显子4（g.26699562 G>A）及外显子6（g.26697018 C>T）。利用PCR RFLP方法对74个家马样本进行基因分型,发现外显子6的SNP有基因型CC、CT;外显子4的SNP有基因型GG、GA;内含子3的g.26699850 G>C突变有基因型GG、GC;内含子3的另外2个SNPs（g.26699953 A>G, g.26699851 G>C）通过测序,发现有AA、AG、GG与GG、GC、CC基因型。所有5个马SNPs均为野生型占主要优势。由此界定了马SLC36A1基因有9种单倍型（H1 H9）,其中H5是最主要的单倍型。德保矮马遗传多样度为0.4190,比玉树马（0.2228）高,表明德保矮马香槟毛色遗传多态性比玉树马更丰富。玉树马与德保矮马的平均单倍型多样度为0.3160,表明其香槟毛色遗传多态性相对较低。     

德保矮马与哈萨克马 KIT 基因多态性分析

 马毛色是品种鉴定和个体识别的重要依据。马 KIT 基因位于3号染色体,KIT 基因突变影响马毛色及毛色的分布。对德保矮马和哈萨克马69个个体的 KIT 基因21个外显子及部分内含子直接测序,共发现了5个SNPs,其中1个位于5'-UTR区（g.91214T>G）,1个位于内含子20 （g.171356C>G）,另外3个分别位于外显子15、20和21(g.164297C>T;g.170189C>T;g.171471G>A,p.Ala960Thr)。用PCR-RFLP方法对69个个体进行分型,发现外显子15有3种基因型TT、CT、CC;外显子20有3种基因型TT、CT、CC;外显子21有2种基因型GG与GA,且均为野生型占优势。德保矮马 KIT 基因多态性比哈萨克马更丰富。     

Polymorphism of the Melatonin Receptor Genes and its Relationship with Seasonal Reproduction in the Gulin Ma Goat Breed

Melatonin is thought to be the main molecule that transmits the signal of seasonal change to the neuroendocrine system in seasonal breeding species. Melatonin exerts its effects through specific melatonin receptors, MTNR1A and MTNR1B. In the present study, six native goat breeds in China and one introduced goat breed were analysed to investigate the relationship between the genetic polymorphism of receptor genes and seasonal reproduction. Sequencing results showed that there were five polymorphic mutations in the MTNR1A gene and two in the MTNR1B gene. In the MTNR1A gene, genotypes AA, AB and BB for 424C>T and genotypes CC, CD and DD for 589C>A were observed in these goat breeds. In all six native goat breeds, only genotype AA was detected. In the MTNR1B gene, genotypes EE, EF and FF for 1179G>A and genotypes GG, GH and HH for 1529A>G were detected. However, in Gulin Ma goats, the genotypes EE and HH were not found. Moreover, the base of G at position 1179 and A at position 1529 were linked (By Arlequin ver 3.1, Zoological Institute, Berne, Switzerland, http://cmpg.unibe.ch/software/arlequin3 ,D′ = 0.7496, r² = 0.4421, χ² = 489.8679, p = 0.000). Among these mutations, no amino acid change was found in MTNR1A, while both of the mutations in MTNR1B gene caused amino acid changes of R222H and S339G, respectively. The structural analysis showed that the R222H mutation occurred in the first amino acid residue of the third cytoplasmic loop, and the S339G mutation was located in the carboxyl terminus of the protein. In terms of seasonal breeding, all the genotypes we detected showed a similar kidding frequency distribution trend with a higher frequency in May–August than in January–April and in September–December. This suggests that the relationship between the polymorphisms in the MTNR1A and MTNR1B genes and seasonal breeding could not be established.     

不同绵羊品种FGF5基因的多态性分析

根据人和小鼠成纤维细胞生长因子5（FGFS）基因的同源序列设计引物对绵羊基因组进行PCR扩增，将扩增片段进行克隆和测序，并与人和小鼠的成纤维细胞生长因子5基因序列进行同源性比较，确定扩增的片段为绵羊的FGF5基因片段。采用PCR-SSCP技术分析了FGF5基因外显子在小尾寒羊、湖羊、藏羊、中国美利奴等4个绵羊品种的多态性。结果表明：FGF5基因在P1和P2引物扩增片段中存在PCR-SSCP多态性。经克隆测序分析，位于外显子1的引物1扩增产物存在G→T突变，该突变位点使编码的氨基酸发生A→S的改变；引物2扩增产物发生了碱基序列C→T的突变，这一突变位点没有引起编码氨基酸的改变，属于同义突变。对不同绵羊品种的基因型和基因频率统计结果表明，引物1扩增产物小尾寒羊、湖羊、藏羊以等位基因A为主，而中国美利奴羊则以等位基因B为主，且各群体均处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡；引物2扩增产物小尾寒羊、湖羊、中国美利奴羊均以等位基因E为主，而藏羊的基因型频率与其它品种有显著差异，中国美利奴羊在引物2位点的基因频率处于Hardy-Weinberg不平衡状态。     

藏羊BMPRⅡ基因多态性及其单倍型与产羔性状相关分析

【目的】 研究骨形态发生蛋白受体Ⅱ(bone morphogenetic protein receptor Ⅱ, BMPRⅡ)基因多态性及其单倍型与藏羊产羔性状的相关性。【方法】 以433只藏羊母羊为研究对象, 采用改良多重高温连接酶检测反应技术(improved multiple ligase detection reaction, iMLDR)对BMPRⅡ基因9个单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphism, SNP)位点在藏羊群体中的多态性进行检测, 使用Haploview 4.2软件分析其连锁不平衡性并构建单倍型, 应用基因关联分析探究BMPRⅡ基因多态性及单倍型与藏羊产羔性状的关联。【结果】 藏羊BMPRⅡ基因外显子12中存在6个SNPs, 分别为: g.90192 T>C、g.142532 C>T、g.142614 A>G、g.142751 T>C、g.143138 A>G和g.143189 G>A, 外显子3、9和13中各存在1个SNP, 分别为: g.143570 C>G、g.124843 A>C和g.145233 A>G, 这9个SNPs均为同义突变。9个SNPs中, 除g.90192 T>C外, 均存在3种基因型。多态信息含量分析显示, 群体在g.90192 T>C、g.142614 A>G和g.145233 A>G位点处于低度多态(PIC<0.25), 在g.124843 A>C、g.142532 C>T、g.142751 T>C、g.143138 A>G、g.143189 G>A和g.143570 C>G位点均处于中度多态(0.25<PIC<0.5)。χ²适合性检验结果显示, 所有突变位点均未偏离哈代-温伯格平衡状态。相关性分析显示, 不同位点不同基因型与藏羊产羔性状均无显著相关(P>0.05), 但g.142532 C>T位点CT基因型平均产羔数高于CC和TT基因型, g.142751 T>C位点CC基因型平均产羔数高于TT和TC基因型, g.143189 G>A位点GA基因型平均产羔数高于GG和AA基因型, g.143570 C>G位点CG基因型平均产羔数高于CC和GG基因型, g.145233 A>G位点GG基因型平均产羔数高于AA和AG基因型, 差异均不显著(P>0.05)。BMPRⅡ基因中除g.90192 T>C位点外的8个SNPs位点在藏羊群体中共形成14种单倍型(H1~H14), 单倍型与藏羊产羔数间均无显著相关(P>0.05)。【结论】 BMPRⅡ基因g.142532 C>T、g.142751 T>C、g.143189 G>A、g.143570 C>G和g.145233 A>G位点对藏羊产羔数有一定潜在的影响。     

澳洲白绵羊美丽臀和肌肉生长抑制素基因基因型的检测

美丽臀(callipyge,CLPG)及肌肉生长抑制素(myostatin,MSTN)是全世界公认的与肌肉生长发育相关的基因,突变后分别产生“美丽臀”和“双肌”的优良性状。为研究国外进口品种澳洲白绵羊是否携带2种基因的突变位点,本试验以澳洲白绵羊为试验动物,采用PCR-RFLP技术对CLPG、MSTN基因的多态性进行分型。结果发现:CLPG基因上有1个C→T的SNP位点,澳洲白绵羊群体中有CC和CT 2种基因型;MSTN基因在3'-UTR区发现1个G→A的SNP位点,澳洲白绵羊群体中有GG和GA 2种基因型。用R语言程序对所测数据进行性别间不同基因型与生长发育状况的单因素方差分析得知,CLPG和MSTN基因不同基因型对澳洲白公羊体重、体高、体斜长、尻宽、背膘厚和眼肌面积均无显著性影响(P>0.05);CLPG基因CT基因型在母羊体重上显著高于CC基因型(P<0.05),在体斜长上极显著高于CC基因型(P<0.01),MSTN基因GA基因型母羊眼肌面积极显著高于GG基因型(P<0.01)。澳大利亚进口澳洲白绵羊中筛选到含有CLPG和MSTN基因的突变位点,且该突变位点对绵羊体尺性状有显著性作用,因此澳洲白绵羊引进后可以作为改良本地羊品种、基因聚合及三元配套系的终端父本。     

绵羊DUSP6基因多态性及其与产羔数关联分析

文章旨在探究绵羊DUSP6基因g.125589716G>A、g.125587728C>T、g.125589714C>T、g.125589006G>A四个位点多态性及其与产羔数之间的关系,以期找到与绵羊高繁殖力相关的分子标记。利用全基因组重测序结合Sequenom MassARRAY誖SNP技术对多羔绵羊品种(小尾寒羊、湖羊、策勒黑羊)和单羔绵羊品种(滩羊、苏尼特羊、萨福克羊、草原型藏羊)DUSP6基因上述4个多态位点进行检测,并与小尾寒羊产羔数进行关联分析。结果表明:绵羊g.125589716G>A位点在多羔绵羊品种中存在AA、GA、GG三种基因型,在单羔绵羊品种中存在GA、GG两种基因型;g.125587728C>T、g.125589714C>T位点在单、多羔绵羊品种中均存在CC、CT、TT三种基因型;g.125589006G>A位点在单、多羔绵羊群体中均只存在GA、GG两种基因型。绵羊DUSP6基因g.125589716G>A位点基因型频率在单、多羔绵羊品种之间差异显著(P<0.05),等位基因频率在单、多羔绵羊品种间差异极显著(P<0.01);g.125587728C>T、g.125589714C>T位点基因型频率和等位基因频率在单、多羔绵羊品种间差异均达极显著水平(P<0.01);g.125589006G>A位点基因型频率和等位基因频率在单、多羔绵羊品种间差异不显著(P>0.05)。关联分析表明,DUSP6基因各SNPs多态性与小尾寒羊不同胎次产羔数之间无显著关联(P>0.05)。综上说明,绵羊DUSP6基因g.125589716G>A、g.125587728C>T、g.125589714C>T以及g.125589006G>A等4个位点的多态性与小尾寒羊各胎次产羔数之间均无显著关联(P>0.05),不适用于小尾寒羊多羔性状选育。     

甘肃肉羊新品种选育群GnRHR基因多态性及其与产羔性状关联分析

根据GenBank发布的绵羊促性腺激素释放激素受体(gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor,GnRHR)基因序列设计2对引物,采用聚合酶链式反应-单链构象多态性(PCR-SSCP)技术分析GnRHR基因外显子2和3在甘肃肉羊新品种选育群中的单核苷酸多态性,并与产羔性状进行关联分析。结果表明,在甘肃肉羊新品种选育群GnRHR基因外显子2检测到GG、GH、HH基因型,基因型频率分别为0.784(160)、0.206(42)0、.010(2),序列测序结果发现在编码区第198位碱基发生突变G→C,导致G变成R(甘氨酸→精氨酸)变化;GnRHR基因外显子3检测到MM、MN基因型,基因型频率分别为0.882(180)0、.118(24),序列测序结果发现在第257位碱基发生突变A→G,导致Q变成R(谷氨酰胺→精氨酸)。GnRHR基因外显子2突变对新品种群羊繁殖力高低影响极显著,突变纯合基因型(HH)绵羊平均产羔数比野生纯合型(GG)多0.981只(P=0.006<0.01);外显子3突变对新品种群羊繁殖力高低也有显著影响,MN基因型羊平均产羔数比MM基因型多0.688只(P=0.029<0.05)。由此可推测GnRHR基因可能是控制新品种群羊产羔性能的一个主效基因或是与之存在紧密连锁的一个遗传标记。     

Single-nucleotide polymorphism identification in the caprine myostatin gene

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of MSTN gene amplified from 35 goats representing 17 Chinese indigenous goat breeds and five imported goat breeds were sequenced to identify the single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of a 379‐bp fragment including part of intron 2 and exon 3 of MSTN gene. A total of eight SNPs (A1980G, G1981C, A1982G, G1984T, A2121G, T2124C, G2174A and A2246G) were identified among the sequenced goats. The SNPs found are all located in intron 2 except for A2246G, which was a synonymous mutation in exon 3. Four haplotypes were sorted from these eight SNPs, of which, haplotype I (AGAGATGA) and haplotype II (GCGTGTAA) are the two main haplotypes with the frequency of 77.8% and 14.8% respectively. The SNPs found at positions 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984 and 2121 might be linked to inheritance completely.     

中国荷斯坦牛DGAT2基因第4外显子与产奶性状的关联分析

本试验以宁夏地区8个公牛家系的各8头女儿共计64头中国荷斯坦母牛为研究对象．利用AB13730测序仪对DGAT2基因Exon4进行了基因型检测后发现三个突变位点474bp（C／G）、48lbp（G／A）、621bp（C／T）,各个位点发现有两种基因型,分别为CC型、GC型,GG型、GA型,CC型和CT型,基因型频率分别为0．484、0．516,0．687、0．313,0．484和0．516。通过SAS软件（8．02）对4个产奶性状与DGAT2基因Exon4的关联分析表明．474bp（C／G）CG型305d产奶量和乳脂率显著高于CC型（P〈0．05）,乳蛋白率、体细胞数影响不显著（P〉0．05）;481bp（G／A）GA型305d产奶量显著高于GG型,与乳脂率、乳蛋白率、体细胞数无显著的相关性（P〉0．05）;621bp（C／T）CT型305d产奶量、乳蛋白率、体细胞数都显著高于CC型（P〈0．05）,乳脂率影响不显著（P〉O．05）。     

New SNPs in the IGF2 gene and association between this gene and backfat thickness and lean meat content in Large White pigs

IGF2‐in3‐G3072A is a causative mutation for paternally expressed quantitative trait loci on the p arm of porcine chromosome 2 with substantial effect on muscle growth and backfat thickness. The linkage disequilibrium between IGF2‐in3‐G3072A and IGF2‐in7‐G162C (IGF2‐NciI) in four breeds and associations between these polymorphisms and growth and meat performance in pigs of the Large White breed were analysed. A significant effect of these polymorphisms on backfat thickness and lean meat content was found. In addition, we identified two new single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in intron 7 of the gene. The existence of complete linkage disequilibrium between IGF2‐in3‐G3072A locus in the population under study where the locus segregated and SNPs in intron 7 of the IGF2 gene detectable with simple and reliable polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques (G162C, C179G and G186T) offer possibilities to use these SNPs for genotyping of quantitative trait nucleotide in Large White and Landrace breeds.     

藏羊脂联素基因多态性及其与产肉性能的相关性分析

利用高分辨率熔解曲线技术对176头2周岁的甘肃藏羊（欧拉型、甘加型、乔科型）脂联素基因SNPs位点进行检测,运用GLM模型将检测到的SNPs位点与部分胴体及肉质性状的相关性进行了分析.结果表明：在脂联素第2外显子发现＋67G＞C突变使编码氨基酸由谷氨酸突变为谷氨酰胺;GG、GC基因型个体的宰前活重、胴体重均显著高于CC型（P＜0.05）.说明脂联素基因该位点可能是影响藏羊胴体及肉质性状的主效QTL或与之紧密连锁,可作为藏羊高档羊肉生产的候选分子标记.     

The significance of interactions in practical sheep breeding in northern Europe

A brief summary of the sheep breed population in Eire, Scandinavia and United Kingdom is presented.The large number of breeds in the U.K. suggests that genotype environment interactions may well exist. Experimental evidence of both between breed and, more importantly, of within breed G × E interaction is summarised together with circumstantial evidence from the industry.The implications of such evidence are discussed in relation to the national improvement programme for each type of breed — hill, longwool and down breeds. The conclusion is that for hill breeds selected for reproduction traits the possibility of G × E interactions cannot be ignored, whereas for the slaughter sire breeds there appears to be less likelihood of serious effects. Some evidence suggests that artificial rearing, although an unnatural environment, can improve the rate of progress rather than decrease it.     

松辽黑猪OAS1基因多态性及其与繁殖性状的关联分析

为探究寡腺苷酸合成酶1（oligoadenylate synthase 1,OAS1）基因多态性与松辽黑猪繁殖性状的关联性,试验选取130头松辽黑猪母猪为研究对象,利用Sanger直接测序法测序查找OAS1基因外显子1~8的SNP位点,使用SPSS 19.0软件分析OAS1基因SNP位点与松辽黑猪繁殖性状的关联性。结果显示,在松辽黑猪OAS1基因外显子2、3和6上共检测到33个突变位点;其中在外显子2的110 bp处存在1个SNP位点（G110C）,存在3种基因型：GG、GC和CC;在外显子3的176 bp处存在1个SNP位点（C176T）,存在3种基因型：CC、CT和TT;在外显子6的145 bp处存在1个SNP位点（C145T）,存在3种基因型：CC、CA和AA;在166 bp处存在1个SNP位点（G166A）,存在3种基因型：GG、GA和AA;在206 bp处存在1个SNP位点（A206G）,存在3种基因型：AA、AG和GG。卡方适合性检验结果显示,松辽黑猪OAS1基因G110C突变位点符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态,C176T、C145A、G166A和G206A位点均偏离Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态。群体遗传参数分析结果显示,各SNPs位点遗传杂合度均位于中等水平,为中度多态（0.25<PIC<0.5）。关联分析结果发现,G110C位点GC基因型个体总产仔数、产活仔数和断奶仔猪数均显著高于GG基因型个体（P<0.05）;C176T位点CT基因型个体断奶仔猪数显著高于CC基因型个体（P<0.05）;C145T位点CC基因型个体总产仔数和产活仔数均显著高于AA基因型个体（P<0.05）;G166A位点GA基因型个体断奶仔猪数显著高于GG基因型个体（P<0.05）;A206G位点GG基因型个体总产仔数和产活仔数显著高于AA基因型个体（P<0.05）。结果表明,OAS1基因外显子区存在突变位点,对松辽黑猪部分繁殖性状有显著性影响。     

肌细胞生成素基因多态性与泸宁鸡生长性状的关联研究

本研究旨在探讨肌细胞生成素(myogenin,MyoG)基因多态性与泸宁鸡生长性状的关联性.采用PCR-SSCP和DNA测序技术,对泸宁鸡MyoG基因5'调控区的多态性进行检测.结果表明,泸宁鸡MyoG基因5'调控区存在4个多态位点(A153G、A267G、A446G和C612T).在153 bp处存在A/G突变,形成3种基因型(AA、AG和GG),其中AA基因型肝脏重显著高于AG、GG基因型(P <0.05).在446 bp处存在的A/G突变,形成3种基因型(AA、AG和GG),该位点GG基因型屠宰率显著高于AA、AG基因型(P <0.05),AG、GG基因型胸肌率显著高于AA基因型(P <0.05).以上结果显示,MyoG基因5'调控区的多态性与泸宁鸡肝脏重、屠宰率、胸肌率有一定的关联性,可作为泸宁鸡相应生长性状的候选基因.     

绵羊Fsp27基因组织表达、多态性及其与不同绵羊品种尾脂沉积能力的关联性分析

旨在研究绵羊Fsp27基因的组织表达/多态性及其与不同绵羊品种尾脂沉积能力的关联性。本研究采用qRT-PCR检测了营养充足期阿勒泰羊不同组织中Fsp27基因的表达情况,同时对营养充足期和营养匮乏期阿勒泰羊尾脂组织中Fsp27基因的表达情况进行了定量分析,采用PCR-SSCP结合测序技术检测了5个不同尾脂沉积能力绵羊品种Fsp27基因的突变情况,并分析了相关突变与绵羊尾脂沉积能力的关联性。结果表明,Fsp27基因在营养充足期阿勒泰羊尾脂中高表达,其表达量极显著高于其他组织（P<0.01）,在肾周脂肪和皮下脂肪组织中的表达量也较高,极显著高于心、肝、脾、肺、肾、胃、肠、皮肤和骨骼肌组织（P<0.01）。在心、肝、脾、肺、肾、胃、肠、皮肤和骨骼肌组织中呈微量表达,且各组织间差异不显著（P>0.05）。另外,营养充足期阿勒泰羊尾脂中Fsp27基因的表达量极显著高于营养匮乏期（P<0.01）。绵羊Fsp27基因在不同尾脂沉积能力品种群体中共检测到25个突变位点,其中位于第3外显子g.16771741的G/A突变以及第5外显子g.16774969的C/T突变均为错义突变,且与绵羊尾脂沉积能力高度相关。g.16771741的G/A突变在尾脂沉积能力较强的阿勒泰羊、小尾寒羊和湖羊群体中以G等位基因为主,分别占到86.8%、83.7%和85.7%,而尾脂沉积能力较差的中国美利奴细毛羊和萨福克羊群体中G等位基因分别仅占30.3%和11.1%。g.16774969的C/T突变在阿勒泰羊群体中以T等位基因为主,TT基因型占84.7%,CT基因型占15.3%,没有检测到CC基因型;在短脂尾型的小尾寒羊和湖羊群体中,TT和CT基因型也分别占到65.9%、50.4%和22.7%、41.1%,而在长瘦尾的中国美利奴细毛羊和萨福克羊群体中则以CC基因型为主,分别占到97.4%和69.4%,没有检测到TT基因型。以上研究结果表明,Fsp27基因在阿勒泰羊尾脂中高表达,且其在尾脂中的表达量与阿勒泰羊的营养状态密切相关,Fsp27基因第3外显子g.16771741的G/A突变以及第5外显子g.16774969的C/T突变与绵羊尾脂沉积能力高度相关,可以作为理想的分子标记用于低脂肪绵羊品种的选育。     

CXCR2基因多态性与奶牛体细胞评分的关联性

利用基因测序技术对CXCR2基因进行了多态性筛查,结果发现存在+612A→G、+684G→A、+777G→C、+855G→A、+858C→A和+861G→A等6个突变位点,其中+855为新发现的SNP。6个位点都处于连锁不平衡状态,+684与+861位点之间和+777与+858之间的相关程度高(r2分别为0.635和0.541)。基因效应模型分析表明:+855和+861位点不同基因型对奶牛体细胞评分的影响没有显著性差异(P0.05)。+612位点不同基因型对体细胞评分的影响具有显著性差异(P0.05),AA基因型个体的体细胞评分最低为4.19,乳房炎抗性最强。+777位点不同基因型对体细胞评分的影响差异性显著(P0.05),GG基因型个体体细胞评分最低为4.17,对乳房炎的抗性较强,说明该基因+612和+777SNPs可作为奶牛乳房炎抗性分子标记位点。     

Texel sheep are more resistant to natural nematode challenge than Suffolk sheep based on faecal egg count and nematode burden

Limited information is available on differences between sheep breeds with respect to helminth resistance under temperate conditions. The present study was designed to confirm and extend preliminary findings on observed breed differences in resistance to naturally acquired gastrointestinal nematodes in Suffolk and Texel sheep. Three trials were carried out. In trial 1 (1999-2003) lambs co-grazed from birth were faecal sampled at various time points up to 17 weeks of age. Worm burden was assessed at 17 weeks of age from a minimum of six lambs per breed in each of the 3 years. In trial 2, faecal egg count (FEC) was determined on six farms with co-grazed Suffolk and Texel purebred lambs. In trial 3 (2001-2003), ewes were faecal sampled at winter housing. In all three trials, an influence of breed on resistance to naturally acquired trichostrongyle infection was demonstrated. In trial 1, significantly higher FEC and worm burden was observed in Suffolk compared with Texel lambs following natural challenge. In trial 2, FEC recorded in lambs from six farms confirmed the breed differences previously observed. A breed difference in resistance to GI parasites was also observed in older ewes. In both breeds, an age effect on the FEC was observed with younger ewes having greater FEC than older ewes.