title: Genetic variability of the PRNP gene in goat breeds from Northern and Southern Italy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the variability of the prion protein gene (PRNP) in goats from Northern and Southern Italy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Genomic DNA isolated from goat blood was polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified for the coding region of the PRNP gene and then sequenced. In total, 13 polymorphic sites were identified: G37V, T110P, G127S, M137I, I142M, I142T, H143R, R154H, P168Q, T194P, R211Q, Q222K and S240P (substitutions I142T and T194P are novel) giving rise to 14 haplotypes. Clear frequency differences between Northern and Southern breeds were found and confirmed by genetic distance analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in allele distribution were found between Northern and Southern goats, in particular regarding the M142 and K222 alleles, possibly associated to scrapie resistance; philogeographical analysis supported the idea that Northern and Southern breeds may be considered as separate clusters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Italy only limited studies have been carried out on caprine PRNP genotype distribution; this study is important to fill this lack of information. Moreover the finding of significant differences among allele distributions in Northern and Southern goats, especially if involved in modulating resistance/susceptibility, need to be carefully considered for the feasibility of selection plans for resistance to scrapie.
authors.affiliation: CEA, Istituto Zooprofilattico del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin, Italy. pierluigi.acutis@izsto.it
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Acutis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colussi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santagada
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laurenza
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Maniaci
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Riina
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peletto
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Goldmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bossers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caramelli
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cristoferi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maione
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sacchi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rasero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006041:Goats / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes; D007558:Italy; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018620:PrPSc Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012608:Scrapie / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D018620:PrPSc Proteins