<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p> The polymorphism of prion protein (PrP) amino acids in codons 136 (A/V), 154 (R/H); and 171 (Q/R/H) was established. Reproductive performance of mother sheep was evaluated analysing the fertility coefficient and litter size, <italic>i.e</italic>. the number of born and reared lambs. The studies included mothers of synthetic lines BCP - 111 sheep and SCP - 104 sheep born in 2001-2007. In the examined ovine <italic>PRNP </italic>gene, the following four alleles were identified: <italic>ARR, AHQ, ARQ</italic>, and <italic>VRQ, </italic>with the absence of the <italic>ARH</italic> allele. The highest frequency was determined for the <italic>ARR </italic>(49.8%) and <italic>ARQ </italic>(45.8%) alleles. In the studied sheep population, the occurrence of seven different genotypes was reported. It was found that 71.6% of the animals had the genotypes <italic>ARR/ARR</italic>, <italic>ARR/ARQ</italic>, and <italic>ARR/AHQ, </italic>which are regarded as the most resistant to scrapie, while 7.9% of the population had <italic>ARR/VRQ</italic>-bearing genotypes (low resistance) or <italic>ARQ/VRQ </italic>ones (high susceptibility to scrapie). The analysis of the obtained results indicates that the <italic>PRNP </italic>genotype does not affect reproduction efficiency of mothers, or their offspring growth. It was concluded that flock elimination of ewes of genotypes with high and very high susceptibility to scrapie will not reduce the reproduction parameters of ewes or growth of their lambs.</p>
</abstract>

The polymorphism of prion protein (PrP) amino acids in codons 136 (A/V), 154 (R/H); and 171 (Q/R/H) was established. Reproductive performance of mother sheep was evaluated analysing the fertility coefficient and litter size, i.e. the number of born and reared lambs. The studies included mothers of synthetic lines BCP - 111 sheep and SCP - 104 sheep born in 2001-2007. In the examined ovine PRNP gene, the following four alleles were identified: ARR, AHQ, ARQ, and VRQ, with the absence of the ARH allele. The highest frequency was determined for the ARR (49.8%) and ARQ (45.8%) alleles. In the studied sheep population, the occurrence of seven different genotypes was reported. It was found that 71.6% of the animals had the genotypes ARR/ARR, ARR/ARQ, and ARR/AHQ, which are regarded as the most resistant to scrapie, while 7.9% of the population had ARR/VRQ-bearing genotypes (low resistance) or ARQ/VRQ ones (high susceptibility to scrapie). The analysis of the obtained results indicates that the PRNP genotype does not affect reproduction efficiency of mothers, or their offspring growth. It was concluded that flock elimination of ewes of genotypes with high and very high susceptibility to scrapie will not reduce the reproduction parameters of ewes or growth of their lambs.

Effect of PRNP Gene Polymorphism on Reproductive Performance of Mother Sheep and their Offspring Growth

Department of Small Ruminants Breeding and Agriculture Advisory, Faculty of Biology and Animal Breeding

Department of Sheep and Goat Breeding, Faculty of Animal Science

Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW in Warsaw

Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Infections Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Journal of Veterinary Research

The polymorphism of prion protein (PrP) amino acids in codons 136 (A/V), 154 (R/H); and 171 (Q/R/H) was established. Reproductive performance of mother sheep...

Effect of PRNP Gene Polymorphism on Reproductive Performance of Mother Sheep and their Offspring Growth

Published Online: Jan 17, 2013

Page range: 279 - 282

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10213-012-0050-0

Keywords
ewes, lambs, scrapie, reproduction, lamb growth, PRNP gene.

This content is open access.

Effect of PRNP Gene Polymorphism on Reproductive Performance of Mother Sheep and their Offspring Growth

Published Online: Jan 17, 2013

Page range: 279 - 282

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10213-012-0050-0

Keywordsewes, lambs, scrapie, reproduction, lamb growth, PRNP gene.

This content is open access.

Keywords
ewes, lambs, scrapie, reproduction, lamb growth, PRNP gene.