The genetic resistance of rams from Turcana breed to Ovine Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (scrapie)

Since 2005, the European Union Member States have been compelled to utilize programs that foster resistance to ovine transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) as a part of the measures to eradicate TSE at the national level (2001R0999—EN; Annex I to Commission Decision 2002/1003/EC). In sheep, some polymorphisms of the gene PRN-P (gene of PRioN Protein) have a major influence on sensitivity/resistance to TSE. As concerns the classical scrapie, the polymorphisms of the gene PRN-P from codons 136 (A or V), 154 (R or H) and 171 (R, Q or H) strongly influence ovine sensitivity to prion infections. The present paper shares the results of genetic structure analysis of the PRN-P gene locus for three representative ecotypes of the Romanian Turcana breed. 245 Turcana rams, the ecotypes of Hateg, Bala de Bistrita and Sibian, were genotyped at the PRN-P locus by means of primer extension analysis, and the final products were analysed on a Genetic Analyzer ABI Prism 3130 xl. The frequency of genes by haplotypes were identified for each ecotype, and the individuals were categorised in risk groups based on the frequency of the identified genotype, with a view to applying assisted selection at the molecular level.