International Genetics Ltd.

Research and Development

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Development of pigs with higher disease resistance using an in-vitro test

IGL is the leading partner in this program.

A new in vitro swine disease resistance test has been developed to assess the general immune capacity of animals using a small sample of their blood. The lymphocytes in the blood sample are exposed to specific mitogens that have been mapped on specific pig chromosomes using QTL analysis. The mitogen-induced proliferation of the various blood cell subsets is then measured through a multihit assay to estimate the potential resistance of animals to viral and bacterial diseases. This test is an alternative to inoculation of live animals and measurement of immune response as skin thickness. The in vitro test avoids the possible risks of inoculation such as strong reaction and secondary infection that may adversely affect growth and productivity.

The test has been applied in a number of livestock species including chicken, turkeys, dairy cattle and pigs. A group of pigs was also tested for the effect of an immuno-modulator and the test was effective at measuring the differences between animals, as well as the dose-response to the modulator. Further research includes evaluation of the relationship of the test with other haematological and performance parameters, and investigation of the mode of inheritance through specific sire families