Polymorphisms of Two Indels at the PRNP Gene in Th

Authors: Alexandre R Kerber Diego Hepp Daniel T Passos Tania de Azevedo Weimer

Publish Date: 2007/12/07

Volume: 46, Issue: 1-2, Pages: 1-7

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Abstract

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy BSE is a transmissible fatal neurodegenerative disorder presenting a characteristic spongiform degeneration of cattle brain due to the accumulation of a pathogenic and proteaseresistant infectious protein prion Two deletion/insertion polymorphisms of the prion protein gene 23 bp at the promoter region and 12 bp at intron 1 were analyzed in three beef cattle herds Aberdeen Angus Charolais and Franqueiro to verify allele frequencies for possible use in selection of resistant animals High frequencies of susceptibility alleles 23 and 12 bp deletion and haplotype 23 del/12 del were observed in the Aberdeen Angus and Charolais herds but Franqueiro presented one of the highest frequencies of resistant alleles so far described These data indicate the need for selection in Aberdeen Angus and Charolais breeds to increase the frequency of resistant animals in order to reduce the probabilities of BSE outbreaks in these populations

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