Resistance to bovine tuberculosis (bTB) – a disease that spreads from cattle to infect an estimated 70,000 people each year in Africa – could be controlled genetically through selective breeding, a study suggests.
The research suggests that it is likely that a group of genes act together to confer resistance to this serious livestock and human disease. This finding will support future research, which could help farmers in Africa select and breed cattle that are more likely to be resistant to this disease in the future.
The study, led by scientists from the Centre of Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH) and the Roslin Institute, also suggests that, contrary to results of previous studies, resistance to bTB is not likely to be linked to a specific breed.
Bovine TB could be controlled in Africa in the future through selective breeding. Photo credit Rob Kelly, University of Edinburgh
Genetics of resistance
Researchers studied and compared the DNA of 212 cattle in Cameroon. Lymph nodes from the necks of these animals were also sampled and 153 animals were found to be positive for Mycobacterium bovis, the bacteria that cause bTB.
Analysis of the material revealed that some of these animals’ genetic makeup conferred a higher level of resistance against bTB. Researchers also found that, although there were clusters of animals that differed in their resistance to bTB, there were no apparent differences between breeds.
Disease control option
The prevalence of bTB is rising in Cameroon and, with no effective vaccine or treatment, breeding for resistance for bTB may help to control the disease.
This approach has already been implemented in other countries including the UK, where the dairy industry recently introduced a genetic evaluation index that enables farmers and breeders to select Holstein dairy bulls with greater bTB resistance.
Genetic diversity
African cattle have a rich genetic diversity and have been bred over centuries to be suited to the environmental conditions in which they live. Researchers continue to study how African cattle could be bred to be more productive while retaining key traits that ensure their survival.
Dr Rebecca Callaby from CTLGH and Roslin Institute, who led the study, commented:
“Our results suggest that resistance to bTB is not necessarily linked to a specific breed of cattle and that resistance to this disease is probably influenced by more than one gene,”
“We hope with further research we will better understand the factors underlying bTB resistance to help to breed healthier cattle and subsequently improve the lives of smallholders in Africa.”
Dr Adrian Muwonge, also from Roslin Institute added:
“This study highlights the need to focus on genotyping cattle in Africa, because the apparent phenotypic differences in breeds as described by farmers are not reflected by clear genomic differences. This is critical for designing future breeding programmes including selecting cattle breeds, based on available genomic markers for bovine TB resistance.”
The study is published in Frontiers in Genetics and has been funded by CTLGH.