Genome-Wide Association Study for Haemonchus contortus Resistance in Morada Nova Sheep

Autor(es)

Niciura, Simone Cristina Meo ; Benavides, Magda Vieira ; Okino, Cintia Hiromi ; Ibelli, Adriana Mercia Guaratini ; Minho, Alessandro Pelegrine ; Esteves, Sergio Novita ; Chagas, Ana Carolina de Souza

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: PATHOGENS; v. 11, n. 8, p. 12-pg., 2022-08-01.

Resumo

Among the gastrointestinal nematodes affecting sheep, Haemonchus contortus is the most prevalent and virulent, resulting in health problems and production losses. Therefore, selecting sheep resistant to H. contortus is a suitable and sustainable strategy for controlling endoparasites in flocks. Here, 287 lambs of the native Brazilian Morada Nova hair sheep breed were subjected to two consecutive artificial infections with H. contortus and assessed for fecal egg count (FEC), packed cell volume (PCV), and live weight (LW). Forty-four animals ranked as having extreme resistance phenotypes were genotyped using the Illumina OvineSNP50v3 chip. A case-control genome-wide association study (GWAS) detected 37 significant (p < 0.001) markers in 12 ovine chromosomes in regions harboring quantitative trait loci (QTL) for FEC, Trichostrongylus spp. adults and larvae, weight, and fat; and candidate genes for immune responses, mucins, hematological parameters, homeostasis, and growth. Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP; OAR1_rs427671974, OAR2_rs419988472, OAR5_rs424070217, and OAR17_rs401006318) genotyped by qPCR followed by high-resolution melting (HRM) were associated with FEC and LW. Therefore, molecular markers detected by GWAS for H. contortus resistance in Morada Nova sheep may support animal selection programs aimed at controlling gastrointestinal nematode infections in flocks. Furthermore, genotyping of candidate genes using HRM qPCR may provide a rapid and efficient tool for animal identification. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 19/02967-2 - Desenvolvimento de métodos para estudo do Haemonchus contortus e da resistência anti-helmíntica ao monepantel
• Beneficiário: Simone Cristina Méo Niciura
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 17/01626-1 - Caracterização genética e de respostas imunes associadas ao fenótipo de resistência parasitária em rebanho ovino da raça Morada Nova
• Beneficiário: Ana Carolina de Souza Chagas
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 19/02929-3 - Estratégia de tratamento anti-helmíntico seletivo baseado no ganho de peso em cordeiros Morada Nova
• Beneficiário: Ana Carolina de Souza Chagas
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular