Association analysis of interleukin-18 gene with performance traits in Czech Large White pigs

Abstract

This research focused on recently described MspI and VspI SNPs in interleukin-18 gene and their association with selected performance traits (backfat thickness; lean meat content, average daily gain from birth, average daily gain in test, breeding value for average daily gain, for lean meat content, for reproduction and total breeding value) in a population of 344 Czech Large White sows. Both SNPs were genotyped by PCR-RFLP. In this work, these polymorphisms were associated with backfat thickness and lean meat content. Animals with genotype AA (MspI SNP) had significantly (P < 0.05) lower backfat thickness and higher lean meat content (0.77 ± 0.02 and 62.16 ± 0.23, resp.) compared to GA (0.83 ± 0.02 and 61.40 ± 0.18, resp.). Animals with genotype AA (VspI SNP) had significantly (P < 0.05) lower lean meat content and higher backfat thickness (61.10 ± 0.36 and 0.85 ± 0.03, resp.) compared to GA (62.02 ± 0.16 and 0.77 ± 0.02, resp.). No association between IL-18 polymorphisms and other performance traits was found. Our study revealed that IL-18 could be candidate gene for backfat thickness and lean meat content in pigs.