ARS | Publication request: ALLELIC FREQUENCY OF AN OVINE SCRAPIE SUSCEPTIBILITY GENE

Submitted to: Animal Biotechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: May 20, 1996
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Genetic susceptibility to ovine scrapie is associated with the gene encoding the prion protein. This gene occurs in 9 types of sheep in the U.S. In this study, we examined the prion genetic types of 30 infected sheet and 545 unaffected sheep. All 30 affected sheep had a single type (136AA, 171QQ). This genotype was found in 56.5% of the normal sheep in this study. This study demonstrated that susceptibility to the major strain of ovine scrapie in the U.S. is associated with the prion genotype 136AA, 171QQ. Selection of breeding stock with other genotypes may reduce the incidence of this disease.

Technical Abstract: The allelic frequency of an ovine gene associated with susceptibility to scrapie was analyzed in a sample of 30 scrapie affected sheep and 545 unaffected sheep from 12 flocks. The allele encoding glutamine at codon 171 occurred at a frequency of 0.76 in the overall population. All 30 scrapie affected sheep were homozygous for glutamine at codon 171.