Variation and covariation in strongyle infection in East African shorthorn zebu calves

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...

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Main Authors: Callaby, R., Hanotte, Olivier H., Wyk, Ilana Conradie van, Kiara, Henry K., Toye, Philip G., Mbole-Kariuki, Mary N., Jennings, A., Thumbi, Samuel M., Coetzer, Jacobus A.W., Bronsvoort, B.M. de C., Knott, S.A., Woolhouse, Mark E.J., Kruuk, L.E.B.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Cambridge University Press 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/67376
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author Callaby, R.
Hanotte, Olivier H.
Wyk, Ilana Conradie van
Kiara, Henry K.
Toye, Philip G.
Mbole-Kariuki, Mary N.
Jennings, A.
Thumbi, Samuel M.
Coetzer, Jacobus A.W.
Bronsvoort, B.M. de C.
Knott, S.A.
Woolhouse, Mark E.J.
Kruuk, L.E.B.
author_browse Bronsvoort, B.M. de C.
Callaby, R.
Coetzer, Jacobus A.W.
Hanotte, Olivier H.
Jennings, A.
Kiara, Henry K.
Knott, S.A.
Kruuk, L.E.B.
Mbole-Kariuki, Mary N.
Thumbi, Samuel M.
Toye, Philip G.
Woolhouse, Mark E.J.
Wyk, Ilana Conradie van
author_facet Callaby, R.
Hanotte, Olivier H.
Wyk, Ilana Conradie van
Kiara, Henry K.
Toye, Philip G.
Mbole-Kariuki, Mary N.
Jennings, A.
Thumbi, Samuel M.
Coetzer, Jacobus A.W.
Bronsvoort, B.M. de C.
Knott, S.A.
Woolhouse, Mark E.J.
Kruuk, L.E.B.
author_sort Callaby, R.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
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.
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spelling CGSpace673762024-04-25T06:00:52Z Variation and covariation in strongyle infection in East African shorthorn zebu calves Callaby, R. Hanotte, Olivier H. Wyk, Ilana Conradie van Kiara, Henry K. Toye, Philip G. Mbole-Kariuki, Mary N. Jennings, A. Thumbi, Samuel M. Coetzer, Jacobus A.W. Bronsvoort, B.M. de C. Knott, S.A. Woolhouse, Mark E.J. Kruuk, L.E.B. animal diseases animal breeding 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. 2015-03 2015-07-27T07:48:03Z 2015-07-27T07:48:03Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/67376 en Open Access Cambridge University Press 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.
spellingShingle animal diseases
animal breeding
Callaby, R.
Hanotte, Olivier H.
Wyk, Ilana Conradie van
Kiara, Henry K.
Toye, Philip G.
Mbole-Kariuki, Mary N.
Jennings, A.
Thumbi, Samuel M.
Coetzer, Jacobus A.W.
Bronsvoort, B.M. de C.
Knott, S.A.
Woolhouse, Mark E.J.
Kruuk, L.E.B.
Variation and covariation in strongyle infection in East African shorthorn zebu calves
title Variation and covariation in strongyle infection in East African shorthorn zebu calves
title_full Variation and covariation in strongyle infection in East African shorthorn zebu calves
title_fullStr Variation and covariation in strongyle infection in East African shorthorn zebu calves
title_full_unstemmed Variation and covariation in strongyle infection in East African shorthorn zebu calves
title_short Variation and covariation in strongyle infection in East African shorthorn zebu calves
title_sort variation and covariation in strongyle infection in east african shorthorn zebu calves
topic animal diseases
animal breeding
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/67376
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