PCR based identification of bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency syndrome (BLAD) carriers in Karan Fries bulls

Abstract

Bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency syndrome (BLAD) is a lethal autosomal and recessive inherited disease in Holstein Frisian (HF) and its crosses, characterized by a missense mutation in CD18 gene at the position of 383. This gene is part of ß2 integrin gene, which is responsible for migration of leukocytes from blood vessels to the site of inflammation. BLAD affected animals exhibit a deficiency of ß2 integrin of leukocyte and so neutrophil functions are severely impaired. In this study 52 Karan Fries (KF) bulls were examined and 4 animals were found to be carriers for this disorder. Undesired allele frequency was estimated as 0.038. Although this syndrome has been reported from many countries this paper is the first documented report for Karan Fries bulls in India. This also calls for screening of other population of HF and its crosses in the country and castration of carrier bulls can be a solution to prevent further propagation of the recessive alleles of BLAD.