Genetic Markers to Reduce Mastitis and Johne's Disease in Dairy Cattle
Opportunity
Mastitis costs the dairy industry $2 billion per year in the USA alone and Johne’s disease costs another $250 million.
Researchers at the University of Guelph have discovered several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with inflammatory diseases such as mastitis and Johne’s disease of dairy cattle. These genetic markers related to polymorphisms in the IL-10 receptor alpha gene can be used in breeding programs to reduce the incidence or severity of mastitis or Johne’s disease in a more cost-effective manner than vaccination, antibiotics, or herd management practices. Researchers have demonstrated through genome analysis of breeding bulls the association between these SNPs and the somatic cell score (SCS) of the progeny (dairy cows). This panel of SNPs may enable improved selection and breeding of animals that are less susceptible to mastitis and possibly other diseases and thereby improve milk quality, production yields and reduce costs at the farm level. Animals that have lower somatic cell score typically have one or more specific SNPs which can be used to identify cows that have lower incidence and severity of mastitis due to an improved immune response.
Applications
- Selection criteria for breeding and genetics programs
- Reduced disease incidence through enhanced herd resistance
- Reduced dairy production costs and increased yields
- Criteria in a Johne’s eradication program
Potential Markets
- Bovine breeding operations (bull semen)
- Dairy herd health screening and disease eradication (SNP chips)
- Advanced reproductive research (immunology)
Status
Research Status: Academic project completed
Development Status: Laboratory verification TRL-3.
Patent Status: Issued Canadian and US patents
License Status: Available for licensing
Contact
David Hobson, DVM, DVSc, P.Eng, Manager, Technology Transfer & Entrepreneurship
dhobson@uoguelph.ca, 519-824-4120 Ext. 58859
References
CA 2675242 patent issued 15 January 2019; Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPS) in genes associated with inflammatory diseases. This patent protects isolated SNPs from a group of 13 SNPs related to genes involving IL-10, IL-10Rα, IL-10Rβ, TGFβ1 and NRAMP1, and a method to screen animals using any one or more of these SNPs.
US 8445656 patent issued 21 May 2013; Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPS) in genes associated with inflammatory diseases. This patent protects a composition of four SNPS related to IL-10Rα.
US 9133520 patent issued 15 September 2015; Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPS) in genes associated with inflammatory diseases. This patent protects a method to identify animals susceptible to mastitis or Johne’s diseases using SNPs related to IL-10Rα.
US 9963743 patent issued 8 May 2018; Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPS) in genes associated with inflammatory diseases. This patent protects a method to identify animals susceptible to mastitis or Johne’s disease using one of two SNPs related to IL-10Rα.
Verschoor et al., SNPs in the bovine IL-10 receptor are associated with somatic cell score in Canadian dairy bulls; Mammary Genome 2009, 20:447–454
Verschoor et al., Polymorphisms in the gene encoding bovine interleukin-10 receptor alpha are associated with Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis infection status; BMC Genetics 2010, 11:23.