Effectiveness of a program aimed at the elimination of BLAD-carrier bulls from Polish Holstein-Friesian cattle.
The molecular basis of BLAD is the D128G mutation of the gene coding for the CD18 subunit of beta-2 integrin. This mutation is lethal, since homozygous (BL/BL) animals die before they reach sexual maturity. In the 1990s, BLAD was the most widespread genetic disease in HF cattle worldwide. The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of BLAD carriers among 4645 young breeding bulls in Poland in 1995-2006. The frequency of carriers of the mutated allele showed a clear decreasing trend. The highest frequency (7.9%) was recorded while implementing the BLAD control program (1995-1997). Regular monitoring has enabled a great reduction of this threat to the tested population. Today only sporadic cases of BL/TL heterozygotes are reported (ca. 0.8% in 2004-2006).
Czarnik
Urszula
U
Department of Animal Genetics, University of Warmia and Mazury, Oczapowskiego 5, Olsztyn, Poland. czar@uwm.edu.pl
Grzybowski
Grzegorz
G
Kamiński
Stanisław
S
Prusak
Beata
B
Zabolewicz
Tadeusz
T
D000818:Animals; D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005838:Genotype; D006579:Heterozygote; D018370:Leukocyte-Adhesion Deficiency Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D017354:Point Mutation; D011044:Poland
D018821:CD18 Antigens