TY - JOUR
T1 - Estimation of genetic parameters for parasite resistance and genome-wide identification of runs of homozygosity islands in Florida Cracker sheep
AU - Hidalgo Moreno, Jorge A
AU - Estrada Reyes, Zaira
AU - Ogunade, Ibukun
AU - Pech Cervantes, Andres A
AU - Terrill, Thomas H
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - For four centuries, Florida Cracker sheep was developed under natural selection, adapting to hot and humid conditions in Florida, US. Sheep was later re-domesticated at the end of the Second World War. Since the 90s, this breed has shown exceptional ability to regulate gastrointestinal nematodes. This study evaluated for the first-time genetic parameters and distribution of ROH islands in Florida Cracker sheep. The dataset contained 365 animals with phenotypic records at 38 days post-infection (naturally infected with Haemonchus contortus) for for fecal egg count (FEC), percentage count volume (PCV), FAMACHA score (FAM), and body condition score (BCS). The pedigree file contained 695 animals born between 2018 and 2020 and included 300 individuals with genotypes. Genetic parameters were estimated using a multi-trait model with a Bayesian implementation in the GIBBS3F90 program. Heritabilities were 0.38 0.07, 0.47 0.05, 0.27 0.04, and 0.52 0.07 for FEC, PCV, FAM, and BCS, respectively. Genetic correlations among parasite resistance traits were high and favorable: -0.82 0.06 (FEC-PCV), 0.83 0.07 (FEC-FAM), and -0.94 0.03 (PCV-FAM). Genetic correlations among parasite resistance traits and BCS were -0.42 0.11 (FEC-BCS), 0.75 0.09 (PCV-BCS), and -0.82 0.05 (FAM-BCS). Analysis of the distribution of ROH islands revealed a total of 113 hot spots with annotated genes related to immune response, meat and carcass, production, and exterior traits.Our results indicate that genetic selection for FAMACHA score can be effective to improve FEC, PCV and BCS. Moreover, annotated genes within ROH islands could be potential candidates controlling parasite resistance and other economically important traits in Florida Cracker sheep.
AB - For four centuries, Florida Cracker sheep was developed under natural selection, adapting to hot and humid conditions in Florida, US. Sheep was later re-domesticated at the end of the Second World War. Since the 90s, this breed has shown exceptional ability to regulate gastrointestinal nematodes. This study evaluated for the first-time genetic parameters and distribution of ROH islands in Florida Cracker sheep. The dataset contained 365 animals with phenotypic records at 38 days post-infection (naturally infected with Haemonchus contortus) for for fecal egg count (FEC), percentage count volume (PCV), FAMACHA score (FAM), and body condition score (BCS). The pedigree file contained 695 animals born between 2018 and 2020 and included 300 individuals with genotypes. Genetic parameters were estimated using a multi-trait model with a Bayesian implementation in the GIBBS3F90 program. Heritabilities were 0.38 0.07, 0.47 0.05, 0.27 0.04, and 0.52 0.07 for FEC, PCV, FAM, and BCS, respectively. Genetic correlations among parasite resistance traits were high and favorable: -0.82 0.06 (FEC-PCV), 0.83 0.07 (FEC-FAM), and -0.94 0.03 (PCV-FAM). Genetic correlations among parasite resistance traits and BCS were -0.42 0.11 (FEC-BCS), 0.75 0.09 (PCV-BCS), and -0.82 0.05 (FAM-BCS). Analysis of the distribution of ROH islands revealed a total of 113 hot spots with annotated genes related to immune response, meat and carcass, production, and exterior traits.Our results indicate that genetic selection for FAMACHA score can be effective to improve FEC, PCV and BCS. Moreover, annotated genes within ROH islands could be potential candidates controlling parasite resistance and other economically important traits in Florida Cracker sheep.
M3 - Article
JO - Animal
JF - Animal
ER -