Genetic variation in two candidate genes against gastrointestinal parasites in Colombian Hair Sheep

Objective. To characterize two SNP-type genetic polymorphisms in the GLI1 (rs411868094) and IL20RA (rs419463995) genes, candidates for resistance against gastrointestinal parasites in two biotypes of Colombian hair sheep. Materials and methods. From the DNA bank of the Animal Genetics Laboratory of the University of Sucre, 167 samples, belonging to the Ethiopian (n=94) and Sudan (n=73) biotypes, were analyzed by PCR and subsequent bidirectional sequencing of two SNPs in the GLI1 (T>G) and IL20RA (G>A) genes. Allelic and genotypic frequencies, observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity, F index, and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium deviations (EHW) were calculated using the GENALEX version 6.5 program. Results. For the GLI1 locus, the mean genotypic frequencies were 0.155±0.07, 0.370±0.07, and 0.475±0.07 for GG, GT, and TT, respectively. In the Ethiopian biotype, the highest frequencies of the genotype of interest (GG) were found. For the IL20RA locus, the AA and AG genotypes had similar and the highest frequency (0.465±0.03) compared to the GG genotype (0.110±0.01). The genotype of interest at this locus (AA) was the most frequent in both OPC biotypes. Conclusions. The alleles of interest associated with low FEC had a low frequency for the GLI1 gene, but a high frequency for IL20RA. The Ethiopian OPC biotype showed the highest frequencies of the genotypes of interest.