title: A genome-wide association study of fetal response to type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus challenge.
abstract: Control of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is economically important for the swine industry worldwide. As current PRRS vaccines do not completely protect against heterologous challenge, alternative means of control, including enhanced genetic resilience, are needed. For reproductive PRRS, the genetic basis of fetal response to PRRS virus (PRRSV) infection is poorly understood. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were done here using data from 928 fetuses from pregnant gilts experimentally challenged with type 2 PRRSV. Fetuses were assessed for viral load in thymus (VLT), viral load in endometrium (VLE), fetal death (FD) and fetal viability (FV), and genotyped at a medium density. Collectively, 21 candidate genomic regions were found associated with these traits, seven of which overlap with previously reported QTLs for pig health and reproduction. A comparison with ongoing and related transcriptomic analyses of fetal response to PRRSV infection found differentially expressed genes within 18 candidate regions. Some of these genes have immune system functions, and have been reported to contribute to host response to PRRSV infection. The results provide new evidence about the genetic basis of fetal response to PRRSV challenge, and may ultimately lead to alternative control strategies to reduce the impact of reproductive PRRS.
authors: Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada.
authors: Tianfu
authors: T
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Wilkinson
authors: Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada.
authors: Zhiquan
authors: Z
authors: Wang
authors: University Clinic for Swine, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna 1210, Austria.|Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Ladinig
authors: University Clinic for Swine, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna 1210, Austria.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Harding
authors: Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada.
authors: Graham
authors: G
authors: Plastow
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D005838:Genotype; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D019316:Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013552:Swine / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012367:RNA, Viral