BSE is caused by the ingestion of infectious prions leading to a fatal brain degeneration of the affected cattle. However, the individual susceptibility to BSE is determined by the genetic background of the animal. In this thesis, a 300-kb region on BTA 10 encompassing four genes has been characterised and screened for DNA-polymorphisms, which were subsequently used for an association study with BSE in a panel of cases and controls of UK Holstein Friesian animals. The result indicates a rare haplotype with protecting effects. Further, the investigation of two prion protein promoter insertion-deletion-polymorphisms (23-bp and 12-bp) revealed significant overrepresentation of the deletion alleles at both loci in the BSE-affected animals. Up to 50% of the BSE cases can be attributed to the 12-bp deletion allele. This result demonstrates a substantial genetic component for BSE susceptibility in cattle.
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BSE is caused by the ingestion of infectious prions leading to a fatal brain degeneration of the affected cattle. However, the individual susceptibility to BSE is determined by the genetic background of the animal. In this thesis, a 300-kb region on BTA 10 encompassing four genes has been characterised and screened for DNA-polymorphisms, which were subsequently used for an association study with BSE in a panel of cases and controls of UK Holstein Friesian animals. The result indicates a rare hap...
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