Immunity traits in pigs: substantial genetic variation and limited covariation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Increasing robustness via improvement of resistance to pathogens is a major selection objective in livestock breeding. As resistance traits are difficult or impossible to measure directly, potential indirect criteria are measures of immune traits (ITs). Our underlying hypothesis is that levels of ITs with no focus on specific pathogens define an individual's immunocompetence and thus predict response to pathogens in general. Since variation in ITs depends on genetic, environmental and probably epigenetic factors, our aim was to estimate the relative importance of genetics. In this report, we present a large genetic survey of innate and adaptive ITs in pig families bred in the same environment.

Methodology/principal findings

Fifty four ITs were studied on 443 Large

SUBMITTER: Flori L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3146468 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature