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Genetic Analysis of a Commercial Egg Laying Line Challenged With Newcastle Disease Virus
Frontiers in Genetics
  • Kaylee Rowland, Iowa State University
  • Anna Wolc, Iowa State University and Hy-Line International
  • Rodrigo A. Gallardo, University of California, Davis
  • Terra Kelly, University of California, Davis
  • Huaijun Zhou, University of California, Davis
  • Jack C. M. Dekkers, Iowa State University
  • Susan J. Lamont, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
8-20-2018
DOI
10.3389/fgene.2018.00326
Abstract

In low income countries, chickens play a vital role in daily life. They provide a critical source of protein through egg production and meat. Newcastle disease, caused by avian paramyxovirus type 1, has been ranked as the most devastating disease for scavenging chickens in Africa and Asia. High mortality among flocks infected with velogenic strains leads to a devastating loss of dietary protein and buying power for rural households. Improving the genetic resistance of chickens to Newcastle Disease virus (NDV), in addition to vaccination, is a practical target for improvement of poultry production in low income countries. Because response to NDV has a component of genetic control, it can be influenced through selective breeding. Adding genomic information to a breeding program can increase the amount of genetic progress per generation. In this study, we challenged a commercial egg-laying line with a lentogenic strain of NDV, measured phenotypic responses, collected genotypes, and associated genotypes with phenotypes. Collected phenotypes included viral load at 2 and 6 days post-infection (dpi), antibody levels pre-challenge and 10 dpi, and growth rates pre- and post-challenge. Six suggestive QTL associated with response to NDV and/or growth were identified, including novel and known QTL confirming previously reported associations with related traits. Additionally, previous RNA-seq analysis provided support for several of the genes located in or near the identified QTL. Considering the trend of negative genetic correlation between antibody and Newcastle Disease tolerance (growth under disease) and estimates of moderate to high heritability, we provide evidence that these NDV response traits can be influenced through selective breeding. Producing chickens that perform favorably in challenging environments will ultimately increase the supply of quality protein for human consumption.

Comments

This article is published as Rowland, Kaylee, Anna Wolc, Rodrigo A. Gallardo, Terra Kelly, Huaijun Zhou, Jack Dekkers, and Susan J. Lamont. "Genetic analysis of a commercial egg laying line challenged with Newcastle disease virus." Frontiers in Genetics 9 (2018): 326. DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00326. Posted with permission.

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Copyright Owner
Rowland, Wolc, Gallardo, Kelly, Zhou, Dekkers and Lamont
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Kaylee Rowland, Anna Wolc, Rodrigo A. Gallardo, Terra Kelly, et al.. "Genetic Analysis of a Commercial Egg Laying Line Challenged With Newcastle Disease Virus" Frontiers in Genetics Vol. 9 (2018) p. 326
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/susan_lamont/139/