Genetic variation at the tumour virus B locus in commercial and laboratory chicken populations assessed by a medium-throughput or a high-throughput assay.

The tumour virus B (TVB) locus encodes cellular receptors mediating infection by three subgroups of avian leukosis virus (B, D, and E). Three major alleles, TVB*S1, TVB*S3, and TVB*R, have been described. TVB*S1 encodes a cellular receptor mediating infection of subgroups B, D, and E. TVB*S3 encodes the receptor for two subgroups, B and D, and TVB*R encodes a dysfunctional receptor that does not permit infection by any of the subgroups, B, D, or E. Genetic diversity at the TVB locus of chickens was investigated in both layer and broiler commercial pure lines and laboratory lines. Genotyping assays were developed for both medium-throughput and high-throughput analysis. Of the 36 broiler lines sampled, 14 were fixed for the susceptible allele TVB*S1. Across all broiler lines, 83% of chickens were typed as TVB*S1/*S1, 3% as TVB*R/*R, and 14% as TVB*S1/*R. In the egg-layer lines, five of the 16 tested were fixed for TVB*S1/*S1. About 44% of egg-layers were typed as TVB*S1/*S1, 15% as TVB*R/*R, with the rest segregating for two or three of the alleles. In the laboratory chickens, 60% were fixed for TVB*S1/*S1, 6% for TVB*S3/*S3, 14% for TVB*R/*R, and the rest were heterozygotes (TVB*S1/*S3 or TVB*S1/*R). All commercial pure lines examined in this study carry the TVB*S1 allele that sustains the susceptibility to avian leukosis viruses B, D, and E. More importantly, the TVB*R allele was identified in multiple populations, thus upholding the opportunities for genetic improvement through selection.

Different characteristics in chick embryos of two broiler lines differing in susceptibility to ascites.

1. The relationship between the length of incubation, hatching, hypoxic condition, thyroid hormones and the occurrence of ascites were studied in embryos of 2 broiler lines differing in susceptibility to the ascites syndrome. 2. Both the time of external pipping (ep) and hatching of embryos from the ascites-resistant (AR) broiler line was earlier compared to the ascites-sensitive line (AS). The interval between internal pipping (ip) and ep was the same between the lines, but the interval between ep and hatching was shorter in the resistant line. 3. The T3 and T4 concentrations in plasma of the AS line were lower compared to the AR line. 4. Analyses of partial pressures of oxygen (pO2) and carbon dioxide (pCO2) in the air cell of the egg revealed that at day 18 the AS embryos had lower pO2 and higher pCO2 concentrations compared to the AR embryos. 5. The delay in hatching of the AS embryos might induce a more pronounced and/or extended hypoxic environment, thereby creating an environment that evokes ascites.

Increased sensitivity to triiodothyronine (T3) of broiler lines with a high susceptibility for ascites.

1. In the studies reported here, broiler lines divergently selected for susceptibility to ascites under low temperature conditions were tested for their sensitivity to 3,3',5-triiodothyronine (T3) with respect to growth rate, rate of mortality, plasma concentrations of T3, right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) and incidence of ascites. 2. Mean body weight of the ascites-susceptible line (BC-line) was higher than that of the ascites-resistant line (A-line). Adding 0.5 mg T3/kg of the diet depressed growth rate to the same extent in both lines. The effect of T3 on growth was more pronounced for males than for females. 3. T3-supplementation increased the relative weight of the heart and the incidence of RVH to the same extent in both lines. More of the T3-treated BC-line chickens had fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity than the T3-treated A-line chickens. 4. Dietary T3-treatment depressed the plasma concentration of growth hormone (GH) profoundly and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) slightly but to the same extent in both lines. The coefficient of variation of GH concentrations indicate that T3 treatment mainly decreased GH-pulsatility in young growing broilers. 5. Higher doses of dietary T3 (1 and 2 mg/kg) increased mortality in a dose-dependent manner. With 2 mg T3/kg, mortality in the BC-line was almost double that in the A-line. 6. These studies indicate that the development of ascites could be linked with thyroid function. Moreover, dietary T3 supplementation could be used to help identify ascites-inducing factors or genetic lines with differential sensitivity for ascites.

A high recombination frequency within the chicken major histocompatibility (B) complex.

Chickens of a commercial pure White Leghorn line were typed for B-F and B-G by serological, biochemical and molecular biological methods. Amongst 287 typed animals of one particular line, three animals with recombinant haplotypes were identified. Compared to earlier reports this revealed a statistically significant (P < 0.05), tenfold higher recombination frequency in this chicken line.

Mapping of susceptibility to Marek's disease within the major histocompatibility (B) complex by refined typing of White Leghorn chickens.

The major histocompatibility (B) complex of a distinct commercial pure White Leghorn chicken line was characterized using serological, biochemical and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) typing. Line B chickens displayed a high recombination frequency within the B complex. Three recombinant haplotypes were identified. The influence of these haplotypes was determined in relation to the haplotypes B19 and B21 on their resistance to Marek's disease (MD) in an experimental infection with the virus. Offspring of sires with a recombinant haplotype in combination with B19 or B21, and dams, which were homozygous B19/B19 or B21/B21 were infected. The B type of the offspring had a significant effect upon survival. Animals with B complex types B21/B21, B134/B21 and B234/B21 were relatively resistant to MD (24-32% mortality), whereas B19/B19 birds were highly susceptible (68% mortality). Animals with a recombinant haplotype B19r21 (B-G21, B-F19) were equally susceptible to MD as birds with the complete B19 haplotype. In contrast to earlier publications, resistance was not inherited as a dominant trait. Apparently, B19 was associated with a dominant susceptibility. The gene(s) associated with the B complex and involved in resistance to MD were localized within the B-F/B-L region. However, the association with a presumably non-coding subregion of B-G could not be excluded.

The effect of serologically defined major histocompatibility complex haplotypes on Marek's disease resistance in commercially bred White Leghorn chickens.

In commercial pure white leghorn lines, A, B, and C, the effects on resistance against a virulent strain of Marek's disease virus were assessed for B19 and B21 haplotypes of the chicken major histocompatibility complex. B haplotypes were identified by direct hemagglutination using alloantisera raised against erythrocyte antigens. In homozygous B21 female chicks from lines A and B, mortality upon challenge with virus was 16% and 9%, respectively; in B19 chicks, mortality was 42% and 60%, respectively. Intermediate mortality was observed in heterozygous B19/B21 birds. When line A and B hens were crossed with B15/B15 or B5/B19 cocks from line C, differences between B19 and B21 were significant only in the progeny from B5/B19 sires. Therefore, it was concluded that selection for major histocompatibility complex-associated disease resistance markers may be useful only when B haplotypes complement each other in commercial line crosses and when interactions with genetic background do not severely obscure the differential haplotype effects, as are observed within pure lines.

Serial passage of Haemonchus contortus in resistant and susceptible sheep.

A recently isolated field strain of Haemonchus contortus was passaged through resistant (repeatedly reinfected) and susceptible (immunosuppressed) sheep for six and nine generations, respectively. Infectivity of the resulting serially passaged strains was not significantly different when tested in groups of 1-year-old susceptible sheep.

Negative interactions between Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora in calves.

The interactions between Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora were studied in calves by concurrent and sequential infections. A reciprocal negative interaction between the 2 species was found in sequential, but not in concurrent infections. This result was supported by the finding of serological cross-reactions. It is suggested that the negative interaction is immunologically mediated. The depression of weight gain found after infection was similar for O. ostertagi- and C. oncophora-infected calves.

Erythrocyte potassium concentration: a simple parameter for erythropoiesis in sheep infected with Haemonchus contortus.

A number of haematological parameters were monitored in eight-month-old Merino wethers, six infected with 10,000 Haemonchus contortus and 13 controls. Blood loss caused by infection was reflected in a decrease in packed cell volume (r = -0.78; P less than 0.001), and was correlated with faecal egg excretion (r = 0.89; P less than 0.001). Infected animals showed a decline of serum iron content and increased serum transferrin levels. Erythrocyte potassium concentration showed a high correlation with erythropoiesis as measured by iron59 clearance from blood (r = 0.79; P less than 0.001). As potassium assays are quick, inexpensive and samples can be stored for long periods, this parameter seems particularly useful in large experiments.

Seasonal variation in resistance of calves to experimental infections with Cooperia oncophora.

Over a period of nine years, ten experiments were conducted on Cooperia oncophora infections in calves. A total of 327 calves were infected, each with a single dose of 100 000 infective larvae. The large variation between experiments in the faecal egg output of calves appeared to be related to the time of year at infection. Calves infected in the Spring showed significantly higher peak egg counts than calves infected during the rest of the year. Most of the variation in worm length was explained by the age of infection.