Bovine SLC11A1 3′ UTR SSCP genotype evaluated by a macrophage in vitro killing assay employing a Brucella abortus strain

Summary The 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) of the bovine natural resistance‐associated macrophage gene ( NRAMP1 or SLC11A1 ) was genotyped in Colombian Creole Blanco Orejinegro (BON) ( Bos taurus ) (n = 140) and Zebu Brahman ( Bos indicus ) (Z) (n = 20) cattle and their crosses (BON × Zebu Brahman [B × Z] [n = 10]; Zebu Brahman × BON [Z × B] [n = 10]), and in animals from a Holstein × BON (H × B) (n = 10) cross. Direct sequencing and single‐strand conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP) helped in detecting the polymorphic behaviour. The association between resistance to brucellosis infection and SSCP genotype was evaluated using a macrophage in vitro killing assay employing a virulent Brucella abortus strain. The 3′ UTR (GT) repeated polymorphism was gentoyped and its association with resistance to brucellosis was evaluated. When all breeds were grouped, a high frequency in the homozygote GT 12 (AA genotype) (0.823) and a very low frequency in the homozygote GT 10 (BB genotype) (0.047) were detected. The BON (0.963), Z × B (0.60) and H × B (1.00) cattle showed high GT 12 allele frequencies, unlike that seen for the B × Z and Zebu cattle (0.3002 and 0.218, respectively). The GT 10 allele was only found in the Zebu cattle (0.391). A significant association (p < 0.001) was found between the B. abortus macrophage in vitro killing assay phenotypes and the bovine SLC11A1 3′ UTR genotypes, which suggests that the A allele may be associated with resistance. Because only nine animals had the BB genotype, the results require some confirmation in more extensive populations.