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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #304911

Title: A genome-wide association study for the incidence of persistent bovine viral diarrhea virus infection in cattle

Author
item Casas, Eduardo
item HESSMAN, BILL - Haskell County Animal Hospital
item Keele, John
item Ridpath, Julia

Submitted to: Animal Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/16/2014
Publication Date: 1/1/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/61215
Citation: Casas, E., Hessman, B.E., Keele, J.W., Ridpath, J.F. 2015. A genome-wide association study for the incidence of persistent bovine viral diarrhea virus infection in cattle. Animal Genetics. 46:8-15. DOI: 10.1111/age.12239.

Interpretive Summary: Bovine Viral Diarrhea Viruses (BVDV) comprise a diverse group of viruses that cause disease in cattle. BVDV may establish both, transient and persistent infections depending on the developmental stage of the animal at exposure. The objective was to determine if persistent BVDV infection had a genetic component, and to establish where in the genetic material (genome) were the genes influenced by the persistent BVDV infection. There were sixteen regions in the genetic material associated with this condition in cattle. The genes identified are involved in suppression of the immune system. Identification of these regions in the genetic material are necessary to understand the disease in cattle.

Technical Abstract: Bovine Viral Diarrhea Viruses (BVDV) comprise a diverse group of viruses that cause disease in cattle. BVDV may establish both, transient and persistent infections depending on the developmental stage of the animal at exposure. The objective was to determine if genomic regions harboring single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) could be associated with presence or absence of persistent BVDV infection. A genome-wide association approach based on 777,000 SNP markers was used. Samples of animals identified as positive (n= 1,200) or negative (n= 1,200) for the presence of BVDV in skin samples (n= 1,200), were used. DNA samples were combined in 24 pools (100 animals per pool). One SNP, significant at the 5% genome wide level (P = 9.41 x 10-8) was detected on chromosome 14, located at position 80,675,176 bases. Fifteen SNP, residing on chromosomes 1, 2, 6, 8, 10, 15, and 18, were moderately associated (P < 1 x 10-5) with persistent BVDV infection. Results show that genes harboring or neighboring significant SNP are involved in leukopenia, signal transduction, RNA splicing, and DNA methylation processes.