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  • Title: Variation and covariation in strongyle infection in East African shorthorn zebu calves.
    Author: Callaby R, Hanotte O, Conradie Van Wyk I, Kiara H, Toye P, Mbole-Kariuki MN, Jennings A, Thumbi SM, Coetzer JA, de C Bronsvoort BM, Knott SA, Woolhouse ME, Kruuk LE.
    Journal: Parasitology; 2015 Mar; 142(3):499-511. PubMed ID: 25257652.
    Abstract:
    Parasite burden varies widely between individuals within a population, and can covary with multiple aspects of individual phenotype. Here we investigate the sources of variation in faecal strongyle eggs counts, and its association with body weight and a suite of haematological measures, in a cohort of indigenous zebu calves in Western Kenya, using relatedness matrices reconstructed from single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes. Strongyle egg count was heritable (h(2) = 23.9%, s.e. = 11.8%) and we also found heritability of white blood cell counts (WBC) (h(2) = 27.6%, s.e. = 10.6%). All the traits investigated showed negative phenotypic covariances with strongyle egg count throughout the first year: high worm counts were associated with low values of WBC, red blood cell count, total serum protein and absolute eosinophil count. Furthermore, calf body weight at 1 week old was a significant predictor of strongyle EPG at 16-51 weeks, with smaller calves having a higher strongyle egg count later in life. Our results indicate a genetic basis to strongyle EPG in this population, and also reveal consistently strong negative associations between strongyle infection and other important aspects of the multivariate phenotype.
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