Polymorphisms of Mx gene and Immune Response Traits in three Genotypes of Nigerian Local Chicken

Abstract

The study examined polymorphism in Mx gene and its association with immune response traits in three genotypes of Nigerian Indigenous chickens by analyzing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across three genotypes: Normal feathered, Frizzle feathered and naked neck. Blood samples from 120 birds (40 per genotype) were collected for haematology and DNA extraction, followed by PCR amplification and sequencing of target regions from a population of 200 birds. Haematological parameters were: Pack cell volume (PCV), White blood cell (WBC), Red Blood Cell (RBC), Eosinophils (Eos), Monocytes (Mono), Haemoglobin (Hb), Lymphocytes (Lym), Heterophils (Heter), Basophils (Bas). The project lasted for 12 weeks. Mx gene polymorphism was genotyp. Then association between the chicken’s immune response traits were assessed at weeks 4, 8 and 12 of age. Sequence were analyzed in DnaSP molecular software was used for the molecular analysis and statistical software SAS package was used for the statistical analysis. The genotyping results showed that Mx gene had three genotypes (AA, AB and BB) meaning that it showed variants which is the Polymorphism. AB genotype had the highest effect on RBC, heterophils and eosinophil at different stages of growth. Polymorphism was seen in both naked neck and normal feather while frizzle feather showed mono-morphism. Naked neck chickens were in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium while normal feathered chickens were in the disequilibrium. Polymorphism in Mx gene and its association with immune response traits in Nigeria local chickens has been determined.