SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISM OF INTERFERON GAMMA (IFN-γ) GENE AND ITS ASSOCIATION TO GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITE BURDEN OF CROSSBRED ANGLO-NUBIAN GOATS

Abstract

Gastrointestinal parasite (GIP) infection is a significant health issue in goats. Selecting genetically resistant animals offers a sustainable solution. Thus, this study investigated GIP burden, species, and polymorphisms in the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) gene and its association with worm burden of crossbred Anglo-Nubian goats. Bucks that had not been dewormed for 30 days were subjected to fecal analysis to assess worm burden based on eggs per gram (EPG) and to identify parasite species. Genomic DNA was extracted from goat hair follicles, and the exon 2-3 of the IFN-γ gene was amplified and sequenced to determine polymorphism. The study found moderate GIP infections in most goats, with mixed infections of Haemonchus spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Strongyloides spp., and Moniezia spp. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), IFNG1359C/T and IFNG1469C/T, which conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were identified. Notably, IFNG1469C/T exhibited a moderate polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.500, and was significantly associated with worm burden (p = 0.022). These results highlight the need for further research with larger sample sizes, different breeds, and varied farm conditions to better understand how specific alleles affect parasite burden. Additionally, associating GIP prevalence with identified polymorphisms could aid in identifying genetic markers for resistance to specific parasites.