New fast and cost-effective gene test to get the ETEC F18 receptor status in pigs.

Abstract

In many infection studies and approaches in breeding research it is of high importance to know the genetic predisposition of pigs for the susceptibility to the Escherichia coli (E. coli). Therefore, we developed a gene test to determine the status of the F18 receptor, as indicated by the FUT1 gene. A SNP in the FUT1 gene was first described by Vogeli et al. (1996) and a gene test was patented by Meijerink et al. (1997). Up until now, the gene test of Meijerink has been used in research. However, faster and cheaper genotyping techniques are now available, which led us to develop an easily applicable, fast and cost effective genetic test to determine the status of the F18 receptor. To check the accuracy of the new test, we genotyped 32 pigs with the established test as well as with our new test. All in all, we genotyped 430 German Landrace pigs. The test was successful. We suggest this allele specific test as a new standard genetic tool to determine the ETEC F18 receptor status in pigs.