Association analysis between pseudorabies antibody and five single-nucleotide polymorphisms in pigs

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Genetics
• Animal Immunology
• Swine Disease Research

Background:

• Pseudorabies virus (PrV) causes significant economic losses in global pig production due to reproductive issues and high neonatal mortality.
• Genetic factors, specifically single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in candidate genes, may influence pig susceptibility or resistance to PrV infection.
• No prior studies have investigated associations between host candidate genes and PrV phenotypic traits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify host genes contributing to PrV phenotypes through association studies.
• To investigate the relationship between specific SNPs in candidate genes and PrV antibody levels in pigs.

Main Methods:

• Genotyping of five SNPs in four candidate genes (IL10, CXCL12, BAT2, EHMT2) in 178 sows using high-throughput microarray technology.
• Quantification of PrV antibodies via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
• Statistical analysis (ANOVA, Duncan method) using SAS software to assess associations between SNP genotypes and antibody levels.

Main Results:

• A significant association was found between a specific SNP (EHMT2-SNP2) and PrV glycoprotein E-ELISA antibody levels.
• Pigs with EHMT2-SNP2 genotypes 11(AA) and 12(AG) exhibited significantly higher antibody levels compared to pigs with genotype 22(GG) (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• The identified SNP in the EHMT2 gene is a potential genetic marker for predicting susceptibility or resistance to PrV.
• This genetic marker can be a valuable tool for selecting resistant animals in conjunction with traditional breeding methods to mitigate PrV impact in the pig industry.