Polymorphisms in equine immune response genes and their associations with infections.
Abstract: Polymorphic markers identified in the horse genes encoding the interleukin 12 p40 subunit, interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, and inducible nitric oxide synthase were identified and tested, along with additional markers, for associations with two important horse infections: Rhodococcus equi and Lawsonia intracellularis. Eight immune response-related and 14 microsatellite loci covering 12 out of 31 equine autosomes were used for the association analysis. Markers located on horse Chromosomes Eca10 and 15 were significantly associated with the presence of high numbers of R. equi in transtracheal aspirates. Significant associations of markers located on Eca9, 15, and 21 with fecal shedding of Lawsonia intracellularis were found. Marginal associations with tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, and other genes suggested that variations in immune response-related genes could underlie the phenotypic variation observed.
Publication Date: 2004-11-03 PubMed ID: 15520887DOI: 10.1007/s00335-004-2356-6Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research investigates how certain variations in horse immune response genes can be linked to two specific horse infections, Rhodococcus equi and Lawsonia intracellularis. The findings suggest that different genetic markers were significantly connected with the presence of these infections in horses.
Research Methodology
- The researchers first identified polymorphic markers – changes in DNA sequence that occur within a population – in the equine genes responsible for certain aspects of the immune response. These genes coded for the interleukin 12 p40 subunit, interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, and inducible nitric oxide synthase.
- In addition to these identified markers, they also tested other markers for possible links to Rhodococcus equi and Lawsonia intracellularis infections in horses.
- The study used a total of eight immune response-related markers and 14 microsatellite loci, which cover 12 of the 31 equine autosomes. Autosomes are chromosomes that are not sex chromosomes.
Key Findings
- The study demonstrated that markers located on horse Chromosomes Eca10 and 15 were significantly associated with the presence of high numbers of R. equi in transtracheal aspirates – a diagnostic sample obtained from the horse’s windpipe.
- Moreover, there were significant associations of markers located on Eca9, 15, and 21 with the horses’ fecal shedding of Lawsonia intracellularis – an important parameter of disease spread.
Implications and Conclusion
- The findings suggest potential relationships between variations in immune response-related genes and the presence of these two specific horse infections.
- Specifically, the connections with the tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, and other related genes indicate that these variations could underlie the observed phenotypic variation.
- This means that these genetic variations potentially lead to observable differences in the individual horse’s susceptibility or resistance to these infections.
- This could provide further guidance for breeding decisions or for the development of targeted medical treatments for these infections in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Horín P, Smola J, Matiasovic J, Vyskocil M, Lukeszová L, Tomanová K, Králík P, Glasnák V, Schröffelová D, Knoll A, Sedlinská M, Krenková L, Jahn P.
(2004).
Polymorphisms in equine immune response genes and their associations with infections.
Mamm Genome, 15(10), 843-850.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00335-004-2356-6 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Animal Genetics, Palackého 1/3, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic. horin@dior.ics.muni.cz.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Chromosomes, Mammalian / genetics
- Genes, MHC Class II / genetics
- Genes, MHC Class II / immunology
- Genetic Predisposition to Disease
- Horses / genetics
- Horses / immunology
- Horses / microbiology
- Interferon-gamma / genetics
- Interferon-gamma / immunology
- Interleukin-12 / genetics
- Interleukin-12 / immunology
- Lawsonia Bacteria / metabolism
- Nitric Oxide Synthase / genetics
- Nitric Oxide Synthase / immunology
- Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
- Polymorphism, Genetic
- Rhodococcus equi / metabolism
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology
References
This article includes 28 references
- Vet Microbiol. 1997 Jun 16;56(3-4):257-68
- J Appl Bacteriol. 1994 Sep;77(3):325-33
- J Clin Microbiol. 1990 Mar;28(3):495-503
- J Clin Microbiol. 1993 Oct;31(10):2611-5
- Immunol Rev. 2002 Dec;190:169-81
- Clin Infect Dis. 2002 May 15;34(10):1379-85
- J Clin Microbiol. 1995 Jun;33(6):1624-7
- Vet Pathol. 2003 Jul;40(4):421-32
- Vet Microbiol. 2001 Oct 1;82(4):331-45
- Mamm Genome. 2002 Sep;13(9):524-34
- Genome Res. 2003 Apr;13(4):742-51
- Vet Microbiol. 2003 Feb 2;91(2-3):135-45
- J Clin Microbiol. 1979 May;9(5):640-2
- Vet Microbiol. 1997 Jun 16;56(3-4):167-76
- Immunol Rev. 2002 Dec;190:9-25
- Vet Microbiol. 1985 Apr;10(3):293-300
- Curr Opin Immunol. 2002 Oct;14(5):609-14
- Mamm Genome. 2003 Jul;14(7):448-53
- Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2003 Mar;10(2):208-15
- Pharmacogenomics J. 2002;2(6):349-60
- Infect Immun. 1999 Oct;67(10):5041-7
- Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2003 May;10(3):345-51
- Eur J Immunogenet. 2002 Oct;29(5):423-9
- Eur J Immunogenet. 2002 Aug;29(4):285-6
- Equine Vet J. 2000 Sep;32(5):418-25
- Genome Res. 1999 Dec;9(12):1239-49
- J Med Primatol. 1999 Feb;28(1):11-8
- Immunogenetics. 1998 May;47(6):487-90
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
