Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T10:19:32.977Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Evaluation of major genes affecting resistance to disease in poultry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2007

Werner Hartmann
Werner Hartmann
Affiliation:
Institut für Kleintierforschung, Bundesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft (FAL), D-29223 Celle, Germany
Get access

Abstract

The results from experimental studies about genetic factors (‘major genes’) involved in disease resistance and their effects in different genetic backgrounds are reviewed and discussed. The major genes considered are (1) Tv-A and Tv-B, gene loci controlling resistance to infection from avian leukosis virus (ALV), (2) B blood groups which represent the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the domestic fowl and are indicators of genetic differences in resistance to Marek's disease (MD) and, only tentatively, (3) endogenous viral (ev) genes which can influence reactions to leukosis infection. For these experiments purebred and crossbred progeny from three genetically different experimental White Leghorn lines have been used extensively. The results concerned with leukosis are based on a comparison between groups of chickens which were homozygous resistant or susceptible to ALV infection. The variability in the amount of damage from leukosis points to interactions between the genotype of resistance to ALV infection and genetic characteristics of the line or lines involved. In this respect the negative influence of ev 6 on the immune response to ALV infection could play a role. To study the association of B blood groups and resistance to MD, an experimental line which still segregated at the B locus (B2, B13, B14 and B21) was crossed with two other lines which were homozygous, respectively, for B2 and B15. Mortality caused by MD in birds carrying the same segregating B blood groups showed a completely different pattern in the two crosses. Rather unexpectedly, the difference in MD mortality was largest between the two types of crossbred layers carrying B21, which points to an interaction between line and B blood group type. Further studies suggested that this interaction depends on genes within the MHC for which the lines crossed might differ. The availability of information from different genetic groups allowed an evaluation of the importance of each ‘major gene’ in relation to the comparative effects of other factors influencing the trait under consideration. Apart from becoming aware of possible interactions resulting from genetic differences between lines, simultaneous results from genetically different experimental lines also provide a safeguard against overestimating or underestimating the potential of such ‘major genes’ for practical utilization in poultry breeding.

Keywords

genesdisease resistanceleukosisMarek's diseaseMHC
Type
Research Article
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 53 , Issue 3 , September 1997 , pp. 231 - 252
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abplanalp, H. (1979) The role of genetics in the immune response. Avian Diseases 23: 299–308CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Albers, G.A.A. (1993) Breeding for disease resistance: fact and fiction. Archiv für Geflügelkunde 57: 56–58Google Scholar
Bacon, L.D. (1987) Influence of the major histocompatibility complex on disease resistance and productivity. Poultry Science 66: 802–811CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bacon, L.D., Smith, E., Crittenden, L.B. and Havenstein, G.B. (1988) Association of the slow feathering (K) and an endogenous viral (ev21) gene on the Z chromosome of chickens. Poultry Science 67: 191–197CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Briles, W.E. (1984) Early chicken blood group investigations. Immunogenetics 20: 217–226CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Briles, W.E., Briles, R.W., McGibbon, W.H. and Stone, H.A. (1980) Identification of B alloalleles associated with resistance to Marek's disease. In: Resistance and Immunity to Marek's Disease, ECSC-EEC Publications, Brussels, pp 395–416Google Scholar
Briles, W.E., Briles, R.W., Pollock, D.L. and Pattison, M. (1982) Marek's disease resistance of B (MHC) heterozygotes in a cross of purebred Leghorn lines. Poultry Science 61: 205–211CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Calnek, B.W. (1968) Lymphoid leukosis virus: a survey of commercial breeding flocks for genetic resistance and incidence of embryo infection. Avian Diseases 12: 104–111CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cole, R.K. (1984) Natural resistance to Marek's disease: a review. Proceedings International Symposium on Marek's Disease,Cornell University,Ithaca N.Y., pp. 318–329Google Scholar
Cole, R.K. and Hutt, F.B. (1973) Selection and heterosis in Cornell White Leghorns: a review, with special consideration of interstrain hybrids. Animal Breeding Abstracts 41: 103–118Google Scholar
Crittenden, L.B. (1975) Two levels of genetic resistance to lymphoid leukosis. Avian Diseases 19: 281–292CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Crittenden, L.B. (1981) Exogenous and endogenous leukosis virus genes: a review. Avian Pathology 10: 101–112CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Crittenden, L.B. (1991) Retroviral elements in the genome of the chicken: implications for poultry genetics and breeding. Critical Reviews Poultry Biology 3: 73–109Google Scholar
Crittenden, L.B. and Okazaki, W. (1965) Genetic influence of the Rs locus on susceptibility to avian tumor viruses. 1. Neoplasms induced by RPL12 and three strains of Rous sarcoma viruses. Journal National Cancer Institute 35: 857–863Google Scholar
Crittenden, L.B. and Motta, J.V. (1969) Survey of genetic resistance to leukosis-sarcoma viruses in commercial stocks of chickens. Poultry Science 48: 1751–1757CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Crittenden, L.B. Stone, H.A., Reamer, R.H. and Okazaki, W. (1967) Two loci controlling genetic cellular resistance to avian leukosis-sarcoma viruses. Journal of Virology 1: 898–904CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Crittenden, L.B., Purchase, H.G., Solomon, J.J., Okazaki, W. and Burmester, B.R. (1972) Genetic control of susceptibility to the avian leukosis complex. 1. The leukosis-sarcoma virus group. Poultry Science 51: 242–260CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fadly, A.M. and Okazaki, W. (1982) Studies of avian leukosis virus infection in chickens from a commercial breeder flock. Poultry Science 61: 1055–1060CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Flock, D.K. (1993) Verbesserung der Widerstandsfähigkeit gegen Krankheiten beim Geflügel durch herkömmliche Zuchtmethoden. Archiv für Geflügelkunde 57: 49–55Google Scholar
Gavora, J.S., Spencer, J.L., Gowe, R.S. and Harris, D.L. (1980) Lymphoid leukosis virus infection: effects on production and mortality and consequences in selection for high egg production. Poultry Science 59: 2165–2178CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gyles, N.R. and Brown, C.J. (1971) Selection in chickens for retrogression of tumors caused by Rous sarcoma virus. Poultry Science 50: 901–905CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gyles, N.R., Stewart, B.R. and Brown, C.J. (1968) Mechanisms of genetic resistance in the chicken to Rous sarcoma virus. Poultry Science 47: 430–450CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hala, K., Boyd, R. and Wick, G. (1981) Chicken major histocompatibility complex and disease. Scandinavian Iournal of Immunology 14: 607–616CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hala, K., Chausse, A.-M., Bourlet, Y., Hasler, V. and Auffray, C. (1988) Attempt to detect recombination between B-F and B-L genes within the chicken B complex by serological typing, in vitro MLR, and RFLP analyses. Immunogenetics 28: 433–438CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hartmann, W. (1987) Genetic aspects of resistance to avian leukosis and Marek's disease. Proceedings 36th Annual National Breeders' Roundtable,St Louis,USA, pp. 34–72Google Scholar
Hartmann, W. (1988) Gordon Memorial Lecture: From Mendel to multinational in poultry breeding. British Poultry Science 29: 3–26CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hartmann, W. (1991) Genetic aspects of resistance to avian leukosis: an overview. Information Tecnica Economica Agraria (ITEA) 87A: 171–189Google Scholar
Hartmann, W. and Von Dem Hagen, D. (1984) Selektion von Leghornlinien auf Resistenz gegen Infektion durch Leukose-Viren. Monatshefte Veterinarmedizin 39: 86–89Google Scholar
Hartmann, W., Von Dem Hagen, D. and Löliger, H.-CH. (1978a) Zur Methodik der Bestimmung des Genotyps für Infektionsresistenz gegen Geflügelleukose. Archiv für Geflügelkunde 42: 145–149Google Scholar
Hartmann, W., Heil, G., Von Dem Hagen, D. and Löliger, H.-CH. (1978b) Strain and family effects on resistance of Leghorn hens to different diseases. 29th Annual Meeting European Association Animal Production, Stockholm, G-M-H/2.10/Google Scholar
Hartmann, W., Von Dem Hagen, D. and Heil, G. (1984) Genetic resistance to leukosis virus infection: effects on mortality and egg production in Leghorn hens. British Poultry Science 25: 43–52CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hartmann, W., Hala, K., Krieg, R., Heil., G. and Longenecker, B.M. (1985) Investigations of interrelations between B blood group genotypes and immunoglogulin levels in chickens. Animal Blood Groups Biochem. Genet. 16(Suppl. 1): 109–110Google Scholar
Hartmann, W., Hala, K., Heil, G. and Krieg, R. (1986) Effect of B blood group genotypes on resistance to Marek's disease in Leghorn crosses. Proceedings 7th European Poultry Conference,Paris, Vol. 1, pp. 216–220Google Scholar
Hartmann, W., Hala, K. and Heil, G. (1992) Das B-Blutgruppensystem des Huhns und Widerstandsfähigkeit gegen die Marek'sche Krankheit: Auswirkung des Genotyps fur B-Blut-gruppen in verschiedenen Leghornkreuzungen. Archiv für Tierzucht 35: 169–180Google Scholar
Knudtson, K.L., Kaiser, M.G. and Lamont, S. J. (1990). Genetic control of interleukin-2-like activity is distinct from that of mitogen response in chickens. Poultry Science 69: 65–71CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Krieg, R., Hartmann, W., Von Dem Hagen, , and Löliger, H.-CH. (1982) Immunglobulinbildung bei experimentell belasteten Leghornlinien mit unterschiedlichem Genotyp für Resistenz gegen Infektion durch Leukose-Viren. Archiv für Geflügelkunde 46: 69–75.Google Scholar
Lamont, S.J., Warner, C.M. and Nordskog, A.W. (1987) Molecular analysis of the chicken major histocompatibility complex gene and gene products. Poultry Science 66: 819–824CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nordskog, A.W., Pevzner, I.Y. and Lamont, S.J. (1987) Subregions and functions of the chicken major histocompatibility complex. Poultry Science 66: 790–794CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Payne, L.N. (1985) Genetics of cell receptors for avian retroviruses. In: Poultry Genetics and Breeding (Hill, W.G. et al. , Eds), Longman Group Ltd, Harlow, Essex, pp. 1–16Google Scholar
Payne, L.N., Holmes, A.E., Howes, K., Pattison, M., Pollock, D.L. and Walters, D.E. (1982) Further studies on the eradication and epizootiology of lymphoid leukosis virus infection in a commercial strain of chickens. Avian Puthology 11: 145–162CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schierman, L.W. and Nordskog, A.W. (1963) Influence of the B blood group histocompatibility locus in chickens on a graft-versus-host reaction. Nature 197: 511–512CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sgonc, R. (1990) Faktoren, die Resistenz gegen bzw. Empfänglichkeit für virusinduzierte Erkrankungen beim Huhn determinieren. Doctoral Thesis, Universität Innsbruck, Austria.Google Scholar
Smith, E.J. and Crittenden, L.B. (1988) Genetic cellular resistance to subgroup E avian leukosis virus in slow-feathering dams reduces congenital transmission of an endogenous retrovirus encoded at locus ev 21. Poultry Science 67: 1668–1673CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, E.J., Fadly, A.M., Levin, I. and Crittenden, L.B. (1991) The influence of ev6 on the immune response to avian leukosis virus infection in rapid-feathering progeny of slow- and rapid-feathering dams. Poultry Science 70: 1673–1678CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spencer, J.L. (1984) Progress towards eradication of Lymphoid leukosis viruses – a review. Avian Pathology 13: 599–619CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Urbani, N., Hartmann, W., Kuhnlein, U., Zadworny, D. and Heil, G. (1995) Incidence of endogenous viral genes in Leghorn strains of different origin, each with sublines of a different genotype for resistance to avian leukosis virus infection. Journal of Animal Breeding Genetics 112: 421–429CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yamada, Y. (1974) Genetic resistance to Marek's disease and lymphoid leukosis in chickens. Proceedings 1st World Congress Genetics Applied Livestock Production,Madrid, Vol. 2, 191–203Google Scholar