Abstract
Abstract Scrapie is an infectious neurodegenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats that belongs to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. The disease is caused by the accumulation of proteinase-resistant isoform of the prion protein. The sheep predisposition to scrapie is associated with polymorphisms of the PrP gene. Genetic susceptibility to scrapie is mainly related to codons 136, 154, and 171. ARR sheep are strongly scrapie resistant and VRQ genotype is the most susceptible. Many countries have scrapie eradication programs based on using rams with resistant genotype. The eradication program has not yet been implemented in the Republic of Serbia. To examine the genetic makeup of sheep in Serbia related to scrapie, we optimized TaqMan probes of real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique for three codons. Blood samples from 100 sheep were analyzed by qPCR and the majority of the examined sheep were AA homozygous for the 136 codon. For codon 154 the most frequent genotype was RR and for codon 171 the most frequent genotype was QQ.
Highlights
Scrapie is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease of sheep and goats belonging to the group of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs)
According to data obtained from the sheep scrapie control program in the United Kingdom, all genotypes except the ARR/ARR genotype belong to groups of sheep that are susceptible to scrapie
This is the first study regarding the examination of genetic makeup of sheep related to scrapie susceptibility conducted on a sheep population in the Republic of Serbia
Summary
Neurodegenerative disease of sheep and goats belonging to the group of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Each allele is marked with a three-letter code and the ARR allele is associated with a highly protective effect against infection with classical scrapie but does not provide resistance towards atypical scrapie [8]. The ARR haplotype is considered to have the lowest risk for classical scrapie under natural conditions. Sheep with this allele are highly unlikely to carry or transmit scrapie. The prnp polymorphism in sheep has been used for years as a basis for scrapie eradication programs conducted in many countries. The main goal of the eradication programs is to minimize the theoretical risk of scrapie to public health using genetically most resistant rams for mating to increase the frequency of ARR alleles and reducing the frequency of risk alleles. Due to occasional outbreaks of scrapie in countries in the region, it is necessary to perform genotyping of sheep in the Republic of Serbia in order to increase the level of genetic resistance to TSEs in the national sheep flock
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