Genomic Regions Associated with Resistance to Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasites in Sheep—A Review
Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) can be a major constraint and global challenge to the sheep industry. These nematodes infect the small intestine and abomasum of grazing sheep, causing symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhea, hypoproteinemia, and anemia, which can lead to death. The use of anthelmin...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Genes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/15/2/187 |
| _version_ | 1797298121995190272 |
|---|---|
| author | Samla Marques Freire Cunha Stephanie Lam Bonnie Mallard Niel A. Karrow Ángela Cánovas |
| author_facet | Samla Marques Freire Cunha Stephanie Lam Bonnie Mallard Niel A. Karrow Ángela Cánovas |
| author_sort | Samla Marques Freire Cunha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) can be a major constraint and global challenge to the sheep industry. These nematodes infect the small intestine and abomasum of grazing sheep, causing symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhea, hypoproteinemia, and anemia, which can lead to death. The use of anthelmintics to treat infected animals has led to GIN resistance, and excessive use of these drugs has resulted in residue traced in food and the environment. Resistance to GINs can be measured using multiple traits, including fecal egg count (FEC), Faffa Malan Chart scores, hematocrit, packed cell volume, eosinophilia, immunoglobulin (Ig), and dagginess scores. Genetic variation among animals exists, and understanding these differences can help identify genomic regions associated with resistance to GINs in sheep. Genes playing important roles in the immune system were identified in several studies in this review, such as the <i>CFI</i> and <i>MUC15</i> genes. Results from several studies showed overlapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with multiple traits measuring resistance to GINs, mainly FEC. The discovery of genomic regions, positional candidate genes, and QTLs associated with resistance to GINs can help increase and accelerate genetic gains in sheep breeding programs and reveal the genetic basis and biological mechanisms underlying this trait. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:31:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0df56c5b254846fb927d9aec8817373f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:31:16Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Genes |
| spelling | doaj.art-0df56c5b254846fb927d9aec8817373f2024-02-23T15:17:46ZengMDPI AGGenes2073-44252024-01-0115218710.3390/genes15020187Genomic Regions Associated with Resistance to Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasites in Sheep—A ReviewSamla Marques Freire Cunha0Stephanie Lam1Bonnie Mallard2Niel A. Karrow3Ángela Cánovas4Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaCentre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaCentre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaCentre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaCentre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaGastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) can be a major constraint and global challenge to the sheep industry. These nematodes infect the small intestine and abomasum of grazing sheep, causing symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhea, hypoproteinemia, and anemia, which can lead to death. The use of anthelmintics to treat infected animals has led to GIN resistance, and excessive use of these drugs has resulted in residue traced in food and the environment. Resistance to GINs can be measured using multiple traits, including fecal egg count (FEC), Faffa Malan Chart scores, hematocrit, packed cell volume, eosinophilia, immunoglobulin (Ig), and dagginess scores. Genetic variation among animals exists, and understanding these differences can help identify genomic regions associated with resistance to GINs in sheep. Genes playing important roles in the immune system were identified in several studies in this review, such as the <i>CFI</i> and <i>MUC15</i> genes. Results from several studies showed overlapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with multiple traits measuring resistance to GINs, mainly FEC. The discovery of genomic regions, positional candidate genes, and QTLs associated with resistance to GINs can help increase and accelerate genetic gains in sheep breeding programs and reveal the genetic basis and biological mechanisms underlying this trait.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/15/2/187candidate genesgenomicsgenome-wide association studygastrointestinal nematodessheepquantitative trait loci |
| spellingShingle | Samla Marques Freire Cunha Stephanie Lam Bonnie Mallard Niel A. Karrow Ángela Cánovas Genomic Regions Associated with Resistance to Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasites in Sheep—A Review Genes candidate genes genomics genome-wide association study gastrointestinal nematodes sheep quantitative trait loci |
| title | Genomic Regions Associated with Resistance to Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasites in Sheep—A Review |
| title_full | Genomic Regions Associated with Resistance to Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasites in Sheep—A Review |
| title_fullStr | Genomic Regions Associated with Resistance to Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasites in Sheep—A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genomic Regions Associated with Resistance to Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasites in Sheep—A Review |
| title_short | Genomic Regions Associated with Resistance to Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasites in Sheep—A Review |
| title_sort | genomic regions associated with resistance to gastrointestinal nematode parasites in sheep a review |
| topic | candidate genes genomics genome-wide association study gastrointestinal nematodes sheep quantitative trait loci |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/15/2/187 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT samlamarquesfreirecunha genomicregionsassociatedwithresistancetogastrointestinalnematodeparasitesinsheepareview AT stephanielam genomicregionsassociatedwithresistancetogastrointestinalnematodeparasitesinsheepareview AT bonniemallard genomicregionsassociatedwithresistancetogastrointestinalnematodeparasitesinsheepareview AT nielakarrow genomicregionsassociatedwithresistancetogastrointestinalnematodeparasitesinsheepareview AT angelacanovas genomicregionsassociatedwithresistancetogastrointestinalnematodeparasitesinsheepareview |