Allelic polymorphisms of the BoLA-DRB3 gene and resistance to brucellosis in Kazakh cattle breeds

The Authors investigated polymorphism of the bovine BoLA-DRB3 gene in connection with resistance or susceptibility to brucellosis of two Kazakh meat breeds, Auliekol and Kazakh Whiteheaded breeds, using PCR-RFLP. In Auliekol cattle (n = 158), 22 alleles were detected in the brucellosis group, and 24 alleles were shown in the healthy group. BoLA-DRB3 alleles *3, *4, *19, *21 were more common in healthy animals, while Brucella-positive cattle were more frequently carriers of alleles *7, *10, *18. In Kazakh Whiteheaded cattle (n = 146), 21 alleles were detected in infected and 23 alleles in healthy cattle. Alleles *3, *8, *21 significantly predominate in healthy cattle, while alleles *7, *11, *16 are typical for animals with brucellosis. This study identified BoLA-DRB3 alleles associated with genetic resistance (*3 and *21) and susceptibility (*7) to brucellosis; remarkably, resistance alleles are shared by two important meat breeds of Kazakhstan.