DETECTION OF GENETIC POLYMORPHISM IN CD18 GENE IN CATTLE BY PCR-RFLP

BLAD is autosomal recessive genetic disease that affects Holstein breed world wide. It is a disease characterized by reduced expression of the adhesion molecules on neutrophils. The disease is caused by a mutation which replaces adenine at 383 with Guanine that changes amino acid, Aspartic acid to Glycine, leading to the expression of a wrong protein (CD18) that is impaired in function. Blood samples were collected from 42 HF and HF crossbred phenotypically normal bulls maintained at different sperm stations of Gujarat. PCR-RFLP was performed to detect point mutation in CD18, surface molecules of neutrophils. Results indicate that out of 42 bulls, 2 bulls appear to be carriers for BLAD. The condition is alarming and needs regular screening of HF and its crossbreds to avoid risk of spreading BLAD in breedable population of India.