Genetic parameters of pelt character, feed efficiency and size traits in Finnish blue fox (Vulpes lagopus).

Pelt character traits (size, quality, colour clarity, darkness) are important economic traits in blue fox breeding. Better feed efficiency (FE) is another economically important and new breeding goal for fur animals. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlations between pelt character traits, FE and size traits and to estimate genetic parameters for pelt character traits. Pelt size (pSIcm ) had a high positive genetic correlation with animal grading size (gSI), final body weight (BWFin), body length and daily gain (DG), and a moderate correlation with body condition score (BCS). Animal body length and BCS (describing fatness) were considered as genetically different traits. Genetic correlations between pelt quality and size traits were estimated without precision and did not differ from zero, but colour clarity (pCL) had a low antagonistic genetic correlation with FE. Pelt size and DG had a favourable genetic correlation with FE but a fairly high unfavourable genetic correlation with dry matter feed intake. The current emphasis on selection for larger animal and pelt size improves FE indirectly, but selection for larger pelt size favours fast-growing and fat individuals and simultaneously increases feed intake. The detected genetic connections between FE, size, feed intake and pCL should be taken into account in the Finnish blue fox breeding programme.

On genetic and environmental factors in Menière's disease.

The etiology of Menière's disease (MD) remains obscure. Previous studies have shown a highly significant association between sporadic MD and one of the human leukocyte antigen, HLA-C genotypes, whereas disease activity has been related to the detection of enterovirus-specific viral protein (VP1) in the peripheral circulation. This present research extends the HLA association of sporadic cases to the study of families with more than one living member with unequivocal MD. Since the sporadic HLA associations point to chromosome 6 being a candidate region of a possible MD mutation, this area of the human genome has been investigated first; DNA suitable for study by other markers has been stored. The presence or absence of VP1 in the familial MD patients has been measured and related to disease activity at the time of sample collection. The association, in both sporadic and familial cases, of MD and partial HLA class I haplotypes points to a likely MD locus lying between the HLA-C and HLA-A loci on the short arm of chromosome 6. The significant relation between disease activity and circulating VP1 has been confirmed. It is likely that the predisposition to familial MD is attributable to a mutation on chromosome 6, which has been designated M1.