Association between the bovine major histocompatibility complex and chronic posterior spinal paresis--a form of ankylosing spondylitis--in Holstein bulls

• Published in: Animal genetics Vol. 24; no. 1; p. 53
• Main Authors: Park, C A, Hines, H C, Monke, D R, Threlfall, W T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-02-1993
• Subjects: Alleles; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - genetics; Cattle Diseases - immunology; Chronic Disease; Cross Reactions; Gene Frequency; Genotype; HLA-B27 Antigen; Immune Sera - immunology; Immunophenotyping; Lod Score; Major Histocompatibility Complex - genetics; Male; Paralysis - genetics; Paralysis - immunology; Paralysis - veterinary; Probability; Spondylitis, Ankylosing - genetics; Spondylitis, Ankylosing - immunology; Spondylitis, Ankylosing - veterinary; Vaccination
• ISSN: 0268-9146
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.1993.tb00919.x

A highly significant association was found between the bovine MHC class I antigen BoLA-A8 and a form of vertebral osteophytosis/ankylosing spondylitis known as chronic posterior spinal paresis (PSP) in Holstein bulls (P < 0.001). In a population study, restricted to unrelated bulls, BoLA-A8 was significantly associated with PSP (P = 0.0015) with a relative risk of 34.6. In a family study, one PSP bull, BoLA A8/A20, sired 13 offspring. BoLA-A8 was significantly associated with PSP (P = 0.0008). All five PSP sons inherited the A8 allele and the eight healthy sons each inherited the A20 allele. In three other families a complete association of BoLA-A8 and PSP was observed. Lod score analysis, using all available families, indicated a significant linkage between BoLA and PSP (lod score = 6.9). Based on clinical observation, pathology, age/sex predilection, and a strong association with a class I MHC molecule, this inflammatory disease appears analogous to the human condition known as ankylosing spondylitis.