Polymorphisms at codons 141 and 154 in the ovine prion protein gene are associated with scrapie Nor98 cases.
Until June 2004, thirty-eight scrapie cases with unusual features, designated Nor98, have been diagnosed in Norway. This study investigated the distribution of PrP genotypes among Nor98 cases, their flock-mates and a random sample of Norwegian slaughtered sheep. The PrP genotype distribution of Nor98 cases differed markedly from that of previous cases of classical scrapie. A leucine/phenylalanine polymorphism at codon 141 with hitherto unknown significance to scrapie was strongly associated with Nor98 cases. Twenty of 38 (52.6 %) cases were either homozygous or heterozygous for phenylalanine at codon 141. In contrast, this allele was present in only 10.5 % of the flock-mates and 4.5 % of the random sample of slaughtered sheep. Moreover, the H(154) allele was represented in 24 of 38 (63.2 %) of Nor98 cases, as opposed to 27.0 % of Nor98 flock-mates and 17.0 % of the slaughtered sheep.
Moum
Truls
T
Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Kyrkjevegen 332-334, N-4325 Sandnes, Norway.
Olsaker
Ingrid
I
Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, PO Box 8146 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway.
Hopp
Petter
P
National Veterinary Institute, PO Box 8156 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway.
Moldal
Torfinn
T
National Veterinary Institute, PO Box 8156 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway.
Valheim
Mette
M
National Veterinary Institute, PO Box 8156 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway.
Moum
Torbjørn
T
University of Oslo, Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, PO Box 1111, N-0317 Oslo, Norway.
Benestad
Sylvie L
SL
National Veterinary Institute, PO Box 8156 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway.
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011328:Prions / Q000235:genetics*; D012608:Scrapie / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D012756:Sheep
D003062:Codon; D011328:Prions