Investigation on goat lentiviral infections and preliminary association analysis with microsatellites in the native Garfagnina goat breed

Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) are an heterogeneous group of viruses of sheep, goat and wild ruminants, responsible of lifelong persistent infection leading to a multisystem chronic disease. Previous studies suggested the presence of genetic factors that could influence SRLV individual resistance. The objective of this study was to make a first association study between SRLV-resistant or SRLV-susceptible goats and 12 STR markers in a herd of Garfagnina breed goats relieved in Tuscany (Italy). Blood samples were collected from 48 adult goats. Diagnosis of SRLV infection was achieved by serological analysis (21 positive and 27 negative). Association analysis revealed for the first time that ETH10 locus was weakly associated with the infection.