Association assessment of single nucleotide polymorphism in Forebrain Embryonic Zinc Finger-Like gene with mastitis susceptibility in Holstein cattle (Bos taurus)

Abstract

Bovine mastitis continues to be the most powerful disease threatening dairy industry worldwide. There are several immune genes which are responsible for susceptibility of cattle to mastitis and can be used in dairy breeding selection. The aim of this study is to find out whether a three base insertion located at the glycine stretch of forebrain embryonic zinc finger-like (FEZL) gene, a transcription factor which possibly have an immune function, influences the milk somatic cell count (SCC) and mastitis susceptibility in Egyptian dairy cattle. Furthermore, relationships were explored between FEZL gene and its level of expression and semaphorine 5A (SEMA5A) gene level of expression, an immune gene through which FEZL has its immune function. Our results proved that cows carrying mutant isoform of FEZL gene (13G) are more susceptible to mastitis than those carrying isoform of (12G). Moreover, mastitis and high somatic cell count (SCC) reveal an increase in level of expression of both FEZL and SEMA5A genes.