Genetic polymorphism of the alpha s1-casein locus in five populations of goats from Mexico

With the objective of estimating allele frequencies, and testing for population divergence for the CSN1S1 locus, genotypes of animals from five goat populations; Saanen (n = 97), Alpine (n = 81) Toggenburg (n = 92), local goats with external appearance similar to the Murciana-Granadina breed from Central Mexico (n = 26) and heterogeneous local animals denominated Mosaico Lagunero (n = 30), from Northern Mexico, were identified using PCR and Xmn1 PCR-RFLP methodology. For Saanen, Alpine and Toggenburg, the sum of E and F alleles had the largest frequencies (from 0.468 to 0.789), while for the groups local Murciana-Granadina and Mosaico Lagunero the sum of the most frequent allelic groups (A and B), were 0.385 and 0.533 respectively. Both local Murciana-Granadina and Mosaico Lagunero populations showed heterozygote excess (P < 0.08). The percentage of the total genetic variation (F ST) explained by population differences was 5.16. There was genetic differentiation for most pair comparisons between populations (P < 0.05), excepting for Alpine versus Toggenburg, and Toggenburg versus Mosaico Lagunero (P > 0.05). For Saanen and Alpine the frequencies of alleles E and F were similar to the same breeds previously analyzed in Europe. Therefore there are opportunities of increasing the frequency of the strong alleles for protein content Gene Assisted Selection (GAS) in these two breeds. For Toggenburg the most frequent allelic groups were F (0.32) and B (0.21). Results indicate differentiation between most populations for this locus. Moreover, heterozygote excess in local populations indicated breed admixture.

A microsatellite study of bovine solute carrier family 11 a1 (Slc11a1) gene diversity in Mexico in relation to bovine tuberculosis

Bovine tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is a disease of socio-economic and public health importance and of significance to international trade regulation. Allelic variants of several genes have been implicated in the genetic susceptibility to tuberculosis in some human populations, but little is known in cattle. We surveyed 34 European, 18 Asian, 20 Creole and 23 hybrid bovines for polymorphisms of the bovine solute carrier family 11 a1(Slc11a1) gene, formerly known as natural resistance associated macrophage protein (Nramp1), gene by typing the cattle using two microsatellite loci closely linked to this gene. The microsatellites used were 311-22, located at the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of the Slc11a1 gene, and ARO28 situated about 0.6 cM upstream of the same gene Based on allele size in base pairs (bp) we determined five 311-223 locus variants (221, 223, 225, 227 and 229 bp) and 12 ARO28 loci. There was marked diversity and a very high level of heterozygosity in most of the cattle surveyed except the Europeans bovines and especially Holsteins in relation to the 3' UTR microsatellite locus.