Major Histocompatibility class II DRB3 exon 2 polymorphism and resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes in Jamunapari goats

The present study was designed to study the role of MHC class II polymorphism of DRB1exon2 gene of goat with respect to gastrointestinal nematode infection using egg per gram/faecal egg count as a phenotypic indicator. The goats were divided into three groups (<500, 500–2000 and >2000) based on EPG and correlated with Hb and PCV. EPG showed a negative correlation with both Hb and PCV that was highly significant (P<0.01). The DRB3.2 gene was amplified and the amplicons were subjected to restriction enzyme digestion using HaeIII. Three allelic patterns were observed using HaeIII, 186/133 (A), 172/133/14 (B) and 172/81/52/14 (C). The PCR-RFLP allele C was found exclusively in high EPG class (>2000); however, there was no difference among allelic pattern with respect to EPG in other two alleles (A &B) (P>0.05). It is concluded that EPG was negatively correlated with Hb and PCV in goats and also the C allele pattern was more in high EPG group of animals.