U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Animal Disease Research: Pullman, WA
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    CareersSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Pacific West Area Pullman, Washington Animal Disease Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications
- IACUC Summaries

Title:   Author  item
                                            White, Stephenitem
                                            Mousel, Michelleitem
                                            GONZALEZ, MICHAEL - Washington State Universityitem
                                            Highland, Margaretitem
                                            HERRMANN-HOESING, LYNN - Washington State Universityitem
                                            Taylor, Joshua

                                                         - *Bret*item
                                            Knowles Jr, Donald
  Submitted to: Animal Genetics
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 3/3/2014
                                    Publication  Date: 8/1/2014
                                    Citation: White, S.N., Mousel, M.R., Gonzalez, M.V., Highland, M.A., Herrmann-Hoesing, L.M., Taylor, J.B., Knowles Jr, D.P. 2014. Association analysis of variant near ZNF389 with ewe cumulative production in three sheep breeds. Animal Genetics. 5(4):613-614.Interpretive Summary: Ovine progressive pneumonia virus (OPPV) infects 24% of U.S. sheep and causes pneumonia, mastitis, and body condition wasting. There is no vaccine and no cure for OPPV, but selective breeding of sheep with greater ability to control OPPV has promise to reduce disease. A recent study identified a small deletion variant near the ZNF389 gene as the first genetic marker for post-infection control of OPPV with consistent evidence from multiple sheep flocks. An important question is whether use of this genetic marker to breed sheep with better ability to control OPPV will help or harm ewe production by standard measures. To address this question, we tested association between the marker near ZNF389 and 13 standard measures of ewe lifetime production in 1,279 ewes. Measures included birth weight, weaning weight, mature weights at 3 and 4 years, milk score, udder scores at 3 and 4 years, and lifetime measures of: fleece weight, number of lambs born, number of lambs born alive versus dead, weight of lambs born, and weight of lambs weaned. There was no statistically significant association with any of these traits. A trend toward lighter birth weights was observed, but it was not statistically significant and there was not even a trend toward association with weights at older ages. These data suggest that genetic selection for better ability to control OPPV using the genetic marker near ZNF389 will not harm average sheep production represented by these standard measures.
                                Technical Abstract: Description: Genome-wide association identified a gene region including ZNF389 as highly associated with small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) proviral concentration among infected sheep. Within this region, a deletion variant near ZNF389 was associated with control of SRLV proviral concentration in multiple sheep flocks. Since proviral concentration is a measure of proviral replication that has also been correlated with disease, this deletion variant may be predictive for SRLV disease severity. However, an open question is whether this deletion variant could also be associated with production or other traits that might enhance or detract from its value in selective sheep breeding. 

Methods: A total of 1,279 Idaho Rambouillet, Polypay, and Columbia ewes with production records were sampled in 2004 and 2008 as previously described. Phenotypes included birth weight, weaning weight, mature weights at 3 and 4 years, milk score, udder scores at 3 and 4 years, and lifetime measures of: fleece weight, number of lambs born, number born alive, number born dead, weight of lambs born, and weight of lambs weaned. 

Conclusions: The ZNF389 deletion variant was not associated with any tested production traits after multiple testing corrections. The insertion homozygote genotype previously associated with reduced SRLV proviral concentration was associated nominally with lower birth weight, but the weight difference was small and not significant after multiple testing correction (P>0.15). Further, there was no association with weaning or later weights. These results show no association of the ZNF389 deletion variant with ewe lifetime production. However, additional traits should be examined to more fully assess this locus.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov