Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T00:10:05.912Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Genetic parameters for resistance to trichostrongylid infection in dairy sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 November 2009

B. Gutiérrez-Gil ,
J. Pérez ,
L. F. de la Fuente ,
A. Meana ,
M. Martínez-Valladares ,
F. San Primitivo ,
F. A. Rojo-Vázquez  and
J. J. Arranz
B. Gutiérrez-Gil
Affiliation:
Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071, León, Spain
J. Pérez
Affiliation:
Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071, León, Spain
L. F. de la Fuente
Affiliation:
Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071, León, Spain
A. Meana
Affiliation:
Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
M. Martínez-Valladares
Affiliation:
Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071, León, Spain Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, Centro Mixto Universidad de León-CSIC, Finca Marzanas 24346 – Grulleros, León, Spain
F. San Primitivo
Affiliation:
Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071, León, Spain
F. A. Rojo-Vázquez
Affiliation:
Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071, León, Spain Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, Centro Mixto Universidad de León-CSIC, Finca Marzanas 24346 – Grulleros, León, Spain
J. J. Arranz*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071, León, Spain
*
†E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

In sheep, the traditional chemical control of gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) parasites with anthelmintics has led to the widespread development of anthelmintic resistance. The selection of sheep with enhanced resistance to GIN parasites has been suggested as an alternative strategy to develop sustainable control of parasite infections. Most of the estimations of the genetic parameters for sheep resistance to GIN parasites have been obtained from young animals belonging to meat- and/or wool-specialised breeds. We present here the estimated genetic parameters for four parasite resistance traits studied in a commercial population of adult Spanish Churra dairy ewes. These involved two faecal egg counts (FECs) (LFEC0 and LFEC1) and two serum indicator traits, the anti-Teladorsagia circumcincta fourth stage larvae IgA (IgA) and the pepsinogen (Peps) levels. In addition, this study has allowed us to identify the environmental factors influencing parasite resistance in naturally infected Spanish Churra sheep and to quantify the genetic component of this complex phenotype. The heritabilities estimated for the two FECs analysed (0.12 for LFEC0 and 0.09 for LFEC1) were lower than those obtained for the examined serum indicators (0.19 for IgA and 0.21 for Peps). The genetic correlations between the traits ranged from 0.43 (Peps−IgA) to 0.82 (LFEC0−LFEC1) and were higher than their phenotypic counterparts, which ranged between 0.07 and 0.10. The heritabilities estimated for the studied traits were lower than previously reported in lambs. This may be due to the differences in the immune mechanisms controlling the infection in young (antibody reactions) and adult (hypersensitivity reactions) animals/sheep. In summary, this study demonstrates the presence of heritable variation in parasite resistance indicator traits in the Churra population studied, which suggests that genetic improvement is feasible for this complex trait in this population. However, further studies in which the experimental variables are controlled as much as possible are needed to identify the best trait that could be measured routinely in adult sheep as an indicator of parasite resistance.

Keywords

gastrointestinal parasitesgenetic resistanceheritabilitydairy sheep
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 4 , Issue 4 , April 2010 , pp. 505 - 512
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Almería, S, Llorente, MM, Uriarte, J 1996. Monthly fluctuations of worm burdens and hypobiosis of gastrointestinal nematodes of calves in extensive management systems in the Pyrenees (Spain). Veterinary Parasitology 67, 225–236.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Beraldi, D, McRae, AF, Gratten, J, Pilkington, JG, Slate, J, Visscher, PM, Pemberton, JM 2007. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of resistance to strongyles and coccidia in the free-living Soay sheep (Ovis aries). International Journal for Parasitology 37, 121–129.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bishop, SC, Jackson, F, Coop, RL, Stear, MJ 2004. Genetic parameters for resistance to nematode infections in Texel lambs and their utility in breeding programmes. Animal Science 78, 185–194.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coop, RL, Graham, RB, Jackson, F, Wright, SE, Angus, KW 1985. Effect of experimental Ostertagia circumcincta infection on the performance of grazing lambs. Research in Veterinary Science 38, 282–287.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davies, G, Stear, MJ, Benothman, M, Abuagob, O, Kerr, A, Mitchell, S, Bishop, SC 2006. Quantitative trait loci associated with parasitic infection in Scottish blackface sheep. Heredity 96, 252–258.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davies, G 2004. Investigating genetic aspects of the variation in the host response to gastrointestinal parasites in sheep. PhD, Glasgow University.Google Scholar
de la Fuente, LF, Baro, JA, San Primitivo, F 1995. Breeding programme for the Spanish Churra sheep breed. Cahiers Options méditerranéennes 11, 165–172.Google Scholar
Donald, AD 1979. Effects of parasites and disease on wool growth. In Physiological and environmental limitations to wool growth (ed. JL Black and PJ Reis), pp. 99–114. University of New England Publication, Armidale, NSW, Australia.Google Scholar
Edwards, K, Jepson, RP, Wood, KF 1960. Value of plasma pepsinogen estimation. British Medical Journal 2, 30–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gibbs, HC, Barger, IA 1986. Haemonchus contortus and other trichostrongylid infections in parturient, lactating and dry ewes. Veterinary Parasitology 22, 57–66.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gray, GD 1997. The use of genetically resistant sheep to control nematode parasitism. Veterinary Parasitology 72, 345–357.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Groeneveld, E 1998. VCE user’s guide, version 4.2. Institute of Animal Husbandry and Animal Sciences, Mariensee, Germany.Google Scholar
Houdijk, JGM, Kyriazakis, I, Jackson, F, Huntley, JF, Coop, RL 2003. Is the allocation of metabolisable protein prioritised to milk production rather than to immune functions in Teladorsagia circumcincta infected lactating ewes? International Journal for Parasitology 33, 329–338.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jeffcoate, IA, Fishwick, G, Bairden, K, Armour, J, Holmes, PH 1990. Pathophysiology of the peri-parturient egg rise in sheep: the role of prolactin. Research in Veterinary Science 48, 295–300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kates, KC 1947. Diagnosis of gastrointestinal nematode parasitism of sheep of some nematodes by differential egg counts. Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington 14, 44–53.Google ScholarPubMed
Leyva, V, Henderson, AE, Sykes, AR 1982. Effect of daily infection with Ostertagia circumcincta larvae on food intake, milk production and wool growth in sheep. Journal of Agricultural Science 99, 249–259.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mackay, AD, Betteridge, K, Devantier, BP, Budding, PJ, Niezen, J 1998. Chemical-free hill country sheep and beef livestock production systems. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 60, 15–18.Google Scholar
Martínez-Valladares, M, Vara-Del Río, MP, Cruz-Rojo, MA, Rojo-Vázquez, FA 2005a. Genetic resistance to the infection by Teladorsagia circumcincta: IgA and parameters measured at slaughter in Churra sheep. Parasite Immunology 27, 213–218.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martínez-Valladares, M, Vara-del Río, MP, Cruz-Rojo, MA, Rojo-Vázquez, FA 2005b. Effect of a low protein diet on the resistance of Churra sheep to Teladorsagia circumcincta. Parasite Immunology 27, 219–225(7).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ministry of Agriculture Food and Fisheries 1986. Manual of Veterinary Parasitological Laboratory Techniques, 3rd edition. HMSO, London, UK.Google Scholar
Morris, CA, Bisset, SA, Vlassoff, A, West, CJ, Wheeler, M 2004. Genetic parameters for Nematodirus spp. egg counts in Romney lambs in New Zealand. Animal Science 79, 33–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murray, M, Jennings, FW, Armour, J 1970. Bovine ostertagiasis: structure, function and mode of differentiation of the bovine gastric mucosa and kinetics of the worm loss. Research in Veterinary Science 11, 417–427.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Neumaier, A, Groeneveld, E 1998. Restricted maximum likelihood estimation of covariances in sparse linear models. Genetics Selection Evolution 30, 3–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nieuwhof, GJ, Bishop, SC 2005. Costs of the major endemic diseases of sheep in Great Britain and the potential benefits of reduction in disease impact. Animal Science 81, 23–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Perry, BD, Randolph, RF, McDermott, JJ, Sones, KR, Thornton, PK 2002. Investing in animal health research to alleviate poverty. International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya, 148 pp.Google Scholar
Raadsma, HW, Gray, GD, Woolaston, RR 1997. Genetics of disease resistance and vaccine response. In The genetics of sheep (ed. L Piper and A Ruvinsky), pp. 199–224. CABI Publishing, Oxon, UK.Google Scholar
Rojo-Vázquez, FA 2004. The present status of helminth infections in small ruminants in Spain: prevalence, anthelmintic resistance an some considerations on their control. IX European multicolloquium of parasitology, Valencia, Spain, pp. 227–231.Google Scholar
SAS 1998. SAS user’s guide: statistics, release 6.12. 1998. SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC.Google Scholar
Sayers, G, Sweeney, T 2005. Gastrointestinal nematode infection in sheep – a review of the alternatives to anthelmintics in parasite control. Animal Health Research Reviews 6, 159–171.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stear, MJ, Bishop, SC 1999. The curvilinear relationship between worm length and fecundity of Teladorsagia circumcincta. International Journal for Parasitology 29, 777–780.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stear, MJ, Bairden, K, Duncan, JL, Gettinby, G, McKellar, QA, Murray, M, Wallace, DS 1995. The distribution of faecal nematode egg counts in Scottish Blackface lambs following natural, predominantly Ostertagia circumcincta infection. Parasitology 110, 573–581.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stear, MJ, Bairden, K, Bishop, SC, Buitkamp, J, Duncan, JL, Gettinby, G, McKellar, QA, Park, M, Parkins, JJ, Reid, SW, Strain, S, Murray, M 1997. The genetic basis of resistance to Ostertagia circumcincta in lambs. Veterinary Journal 154, 111–119.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stear, MJ, Bairden, K, McKeller, QA, Scott, I, Strain, S, Bishop, SC 1999a. The relationship between the number and size of nematodes in the abomasum and the concentration of pepsinogen in ovine plasma. Research in Veterinary Science 67, 89–92.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stear, MJ, Strain, S, Bishop, SC 1999b. How lambs control infection with Ostertagia circumcincta. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 72, 213–218.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stear, MJ, Strain, S, Bishop, SC 1999c. Mechanisms underlying resistance to nematode infection. International Journal for Parasitology 29, 51–56.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomas, RJ, Ali, DA 1983. The effect of Haemonchus contortus infection on the pregnant and lactating ewe. International Journal for Parasitology 13, 393–398.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Waller, PJ 1997. Anthelmintic resistance. Veterinary Parasitology 72, 391–412.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Windon, RG 1996. Genetic control of resistance to helminths in sheep. Veterinary Journal for Immunology and Immunopathology 54, 245–254.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Woolaston, RR, Baker, RL 1996. Prospects of breeding small ruminants for resistance to internal parasites. International Journal for Parasitology 26, 845–855.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed