Genetic parameters for resistance to the Salmonella abortusovis vaccinal strain Rv6 in sheep.
An experimental population (1216 lambs from 30 sires) of the Inra401 sheep was created in an Inra flock to allow QTL detection for susceptibility to Salmonella infection, wool and carcass traits. The Inra401 is a sheep composite line developed from two breeds: Berrichon du Cher and Romanov. At 113 days of age on average, the lambs were inoculated intravenously with 10(8) Salmonella abortusovis Rv6 (vaccinal strain). They were slaughtered 10 days after the inoculation. Several traits were measured at inoculation and/or slaughtering to estimate the genetic resistance of the lambs to Salmonella infection: specific IgM and IgG1 antibody titres, body weight loss, spleen and pre-scapular node weights and counts of viable Salmonella persisting in these organs. This paper presents a quantitative analysis of the genetic variability of the traits related to salmonellosis susceptibility. The heritabilities of the traits varied between 0.10 and 0.64 (significantly different from zero). Thus, in sheep as well as in other species, the determinism of resistance to Salmonella infection is under genetic control. Moreover, the correlations between the traits are in agreement with the known immune mechanisms. The genetic variability observed should help QTL detection.
Moreno
Carole R
CR
Station d'amélioration génétique des animaux, Institut national de la recherche agronomique, BP 27, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan Cedex, France. moreno@toulouse.inra.fr
Lantier
Frédéric
F
Berthon
Patricia
P
Gautier-Bouchardon
Anne V
AV
Boivin
Roger
R
Lantier
Isabelle
I
Brunel
Jean-Claude
JC
Weisbecker
Jean-Louis
JL
François
Dominique
D
Bouix
Jacques
J
Elsen
Jean-Michel
JM
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000276:immunology*; D022562:Salmonella Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D022562:Salmonella Vaccines