Variation and covariation in strongyle infection in East African shorthorn zebu calves
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2015-03Language
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Callaby, R., Hanotte, O., Wyk, I.C. van, Kiara, H., Toye, P.G., Mbole-Kariuk, M.N., Jennings, A., Thumbi, S.M., Coetzer, J.A.W., Bronsvoort, B.M. De. C., Knott, S.A., Woolhouse, M.E.J. and Kruuk, L.E.B. 2015. Variation and covariation in strongyle infection in East African shorthorn zebu calves. Parasitology 142(3):499-511.
Permanent link to cite or share this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10568/67376
Abstract/Description
Parasite burden varies widely between individuals within a population, and can covary with multiple aspects of individual phenotype. Here we investigate the sources of variation in faecal strongyle eggs counts, and its association with body weight and a suite of haematological measures, in a cohort of indigenous zebu calves in Western Kenya, using relatedness matrices reconstructed from single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes. Strongyle egg count was heritable (h2 = 23·9%, s.e. = 11·8%) and we also found heritability of white blood cell counts (WBC) (h2 = 27·6%, s.e. = 10·6%). All the traits investigated showed negative phenotypic covariances with strongyle egg count throughout the first year: high worm counts were associated with low values of WBC, red blood cell count, total serum protein and absolute eosinophil count. Furthermore, calf body weight at 1 week old was a significant predictor of strongyle EPG at 16–51 weeks, with smaller calves having a higher strongyle egg count later in life. Our results indicate a genetic basis to strongyle EPG in this population, and also reveal consistently strong negative associations between strongyle infection and other important aspects of the multivariate phenotype.