Estimation of genetic parameters and genome-wide association study for enzootic bovine leukosis resistance in Canadian Holstein cattle

ABSTRACT: Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is the causative agent of enzootic bovine leukosis (hereafter referred to as leukosis), frequently observed in North American dairy herds. Infection with BLV can lead to persistent lymphocytosis and tumors and is associated with decreased production, immunity. a...

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Main Authors: Renee Bongers, Christina M. Rochus, Kerry Houlahan, Colin Lynch, Gerson A. Oliveira, Jr., Hinayah Rojas de Oliveira, Nienke van Staaveren, David F. Kelton, Filippo Miglior, Flavio S. Schenkel, Christine F. Baes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Dairy Science
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030224011639
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author Renee Bongers
Christina M. Rochus
Kerry Houlahan
Colin Lynch
Gerson A. Oliveira, Jr.
Hinayah Rojas de Oliveira
Nienke van Staaveren
David F. Kelton
Filippo Miglior
Flavio S. Schenkel
Christine F. Baes
author_facet Renee Bongers
Christina M. Rochus
Kerry Houlahan
Colin Lynch
Gerson A. Oliveira, Jr.
Hinayah Rojas de Oliveira
Nienke van Staaveren
David F. Kelton
Filippo Miglior
Flavio S. Schenkel
Christine F. Baes
author_sort Renee Bongers
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT: Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is the causative agent of enzootic bovine leukosis (hereafter referred to as leukosis), frequently observed in North American dairy herds. Infection with BLV can lead to persistent lymphocytosis and tumors and is associated with decreased production, immunity. and fertility. With no available treatment or vaccine, reducing the prevalence of leukosis through management and culling has not yet been successful. Genetic selection could contribute to permanent improvement in dairy cattle resistance to leukosis. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and impact of leukosis in Canada and to assess the potential for including leukosis resistance in Canadian national genetic evaluations by characterizing the genetic architecture of leukosis resistance using pedigree and genomic information. A total of 117,349 milk ELISA test records on 96,779 Holstein cows from 950 Canadian herds taken between 2007 and 2021 were provided by Lactanet Canada (Guelph, ON, Canada). Each cow was classified as test-positive for leukosis or test-negative for leukosis. Leukosis was present in ∼77% of herds tested; within those herds, an average of 39% of cows tested were test-positive for leukosis. Heritabilities of 0.10 (SE = 0.001) and 0.07 (SE <0.001) were estimated for leukosis resistance using a linear animal model and BLUP or single-step GBLUP methodology, respectively. Breeding value correlations were estimated between leukosis resistance and economically important and phenotypically relevant traits. Most correlations between leukosis resistance and traits already included in Canadian genetic evaluations were favorable, with the exception of SCS. The candidate genes for leukosis resistance identified using a genome-wide association study were on chromosome 23, with some being part of the major histocompatibility complex. This study showed that genetic evaluation for leukosis resistance is possible, and could be considered for inclusion in Canadian national selection indices.
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spelling doaj-art-6e153864b2dc47d0ab30eb7eba604a2f2025-08-20T01:57:20ZengElsevierJournal of Dairy Science0022-03022025-01-01108161162210.3168/jds.2024-25196Estimation of genetic parameters and genome-wide association study for enzootic bovine leukosis resistance in Canadian Holstein cattleRenee Bongers0Christina M. Rochus1Kerry Houlahan2Colin Lynch3Gerson A. Oliveira, Jr.4Hinayah Rojas de Oliveira5Nienke van Staaveren6David F. Kelton7Filippo Miglior8Flavio S. Schenkel9Christine F. Baes10Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaCentre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaCentre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaCentre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaCentre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaCentre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaCentre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaDepartment of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaCentre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; Lactanet Canada, Guelph, ON N1K 1E5, CanadaCentre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaCentre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; Institute of Genetics, Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, University of Bern, Bern 3001, Switzerland; Corresponding authorABSTRACT: Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is the causative agent of enzootic bovine leukosis (hereafter referred to as leukosis), frequently observed in North American dairy herds. Infection with BLV can lead to persistent lymphocytosis and tumors and is associated with decreased production, immunity. and fertility. With no available treatment or vaccine, reducing the prevalence of leukosis through management and culling has not yet been successful. Genetic selection could contribute to permanent improvement in dairy cattle resistance to leukosis. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and impact of leukosis in Canada and to assess the potential for including leukosis resistance in Canadian national genetic evaluations by characterizing the genetic architecture of leukosis resistance using pedigree and genomic information. A total of 117,349 milk ELISA test records on 96,779 Holstein cows from 950 Canadian herds taken between 2007 and 2021 were provided by Lactanet Canada (Guelph, ON, Canada). Each cow was classified as test-positive for leukosis or test-negative for leukosis. Leukosis was present in ∼77% of herds tested; within those herds, an average of 39% of cows tested were test-positive for leukosis. Heritabilities of 0.10 (SE = 0.001) and 0.07 (SE <0.001) were estimated for leukosis resistance using a linear animal model and BLUP or single-step GBLUP methodology, respectively. Breeding value correlations were estimated between leukosis resistance and economically important and phenotypically relevant traits. Most correlations between leukosis resistance and traits already included in Canadian genetic evaluations were favorable, with the exception of SCS. The candidate genes for leukosis resistance identified using a genome-wide association study were on chromosome 23, with some being part of the major histocompatibility complex. This study showed that genetic evaluation for leukosis resistance is possible, and could be considered for inclusion in Canadian national selection indices.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030224011639bovine leukemia virusheritabilitydisease resistancegenome-wide association studyhealth
spellingShingle Renee Bongers
Christina M. Rochus
Kerry Houlahan
Colin Lynch
Gerson A. Oliveira, Jr.
Hinayah Rojas de Oliveira
Nienke van Staaveren
David F. Kelton
Filippo Miglior
Flavio S. Schenkel
Christine F. Baes
Estimation of genetic parameters and genome-wide association study for enzootic bovine leukosis resistance in Canadian Holstein cattle
Journal of Dairy Science
bovine leukemia virus
heritability
disease resistance
genome-wide association study
health
title Estimation of genetic parameters and genome-wide association study for enzootic bovine leukosis resistance in Canadian Holstein cattle
title_full Estimation of genetic parameters and genome-wide association study for enzootic bovine leukosis resistance in Canadian Holstein cattle
title_fullStr Estimation of genetic parameters and genome-wide association study for enzootic bovine leukosis resistance in Canadian Holstein cattle
title_full_unstemmed Estimation of genetic parameters and genome-wide association study for enzootic bovine leukosis resistance in Canadian Holstein cattle
title_short Estimation of genetic parameters and genome-wide association study for enzootic bovine leukosis resistance in Canadian Holstein cattle
title_sort estimation of genetic parameters and genome wide association study for enzootic bovine leukosis resistance in canadian holstein cattle
topic bovine leukemia virus
heritability
disease resistance
genome-wide association study
health
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030224011639
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