In the studies conducted at the Bandırma Sheep Breeding Research Institute, a gene mutation resistant to paratuberculosis, which causes death in animals, was discovered.
Genetic research on paratuberculosis started in 2016 in the facility, which has been operating in Bandırma district of Balıkesir for 78 years, meeting the breeding needs of breeders, and containing 6 thousand ovine and 450 bovines.
Under the leadership of Institute Director Erdinç Veske, Assoc. Dr. As a result of the study carried out by Yalçın Yaman and his team, important findings were obtained.
After examinations and tests, it was determined that ovine animals carrying the 650th amino acid position of the TLR2 gene showed 6.6 times more genetic resistance to paratuberculosis than animals without this mutation. The results of the research have been published in Scientific Reports from the journal group Nature.
It is aimed to prevent the risk of paratuberculosis in both the animals in the institute and the breeders given to the breeders by increasing the breeding of animals carrying the resistant gene mutation in the facility in Bandırma.
Institute Director Veske told Anadolu Agency (AA) that paratuberculosis is a bacterial disease in livestock and it is common in cattle, goat and sheep breeds.
“What we need to do is to identify animals with this gene and give priority to its use in breeding. This is our next goal. We will evaluate disease-resistant breeding opportunities in our breeds and we will ensure that these animals reproduce on a yearly basis.” said.
The research was carried out on more than 2 thousand 200 sheep
Assoc. Dr. Yalçın Yaman stated that they are working on the growth and development characteristics of animals, fleece and meat yield and breeding within the Breeding and Genetics Department of the institute he chaired.
Pointing out that paratuberculosis can be transmitted from animals to humans, Yaman said, “It is transmitted to humans by the faeces and milk of animals. Because their feces pollute the environment, their milk can survive even if pasteurized. Milk dies if it is boiled very well. In some studies, live paratuberculosis was found even in baby foods.” found in the description.
Yaman pointed out that paratuberculosis can cause chronic intestinal infection and various autoimmune diseases in humans.
Citing the details of his research on paratuberculosis, Yaman used the following statements:
“We can say that there is no cure for the disease. Vaccination is available in some countries, but its protection is considered suspicious. Therefore, there is a dilemma about this disease in terms of both its treatment and protection. Animals carrying the mutation we detected are much more resistant to the disease than those who do not. In the next stage, we will now look at whether the animals carry the mutation in the TLR2 gene in our breeder selection criteria. If we allow the animals with this mutation to reproduce, genetic resistance against paratuberculosis will increase in the next generations. “
Mutation seen more intensely in indigenous breeds
Mentioning that the breeding work on paratuberculosis will result in positive results in the animals of the producers, Yaman explained that it is very difficult for veterinarians to clinically detect this disease in small cattle in the field.
Assoc. Dr. Yaman stated that animals caught paratuberculosis died within 6 months to 1 year, and that the damage to the manufacturer was overlooked due to the spread of the death interval of the disease over a long period of time.
Stating that the TLR2 gene is present in all animals, but not all mutations, Yaman said, “The gene has two forms, a normal state and a mutant state. Those who carry the normal state are susceptible to the disease, those who have the mutant state are resistant to the disease.” used the expressions.
Yaman emphasized that the mutation is more intense in certain breeds and less frequent in others.
Explaining that they see that the mutation that provides resistance to paratuberculosis in developed races such as merino and ramlic is very rare and much more intense in domestic races, Yaman said, “We can easily see this from the disease test results. We diagnose these diseases with the ELISA test. Curly and around 3-4 percent in Gökçeada. Therefore, the disease can differ on the basis of race. ” he spoke.
