Homogeneity of the prion protein gene in various European and Asian pig breeds

The genetic variability of the prion protein gene influences the susceptibility to infection with transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) agents in mice, sheep and possibly mail. Pigs have been shown to be susceptible to the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent after intracerebral, but not after oral inoculation. In these studies, however, only a very limited number of pigs of a restricted genetic background were used. Therefore, the question arose whether those experiments do reflect the susceptibility of the species pig or rather that of a single possibly resistant pig breed. The prion protein gene of a total of 66 pigs from 12 different breeds (2 x Deutsche Landrasse, 3 x Deutsches Edelschwein. 4 x Leicoma, 4 x Duroc, 11 x Pietrain. 6 x Large White, 9 x Hampshire, 2 x Belgische Landrasse, 8 x Schwabisch Hallisches Schwein, 6 x Bunte Bentheimer. 7 x Chinesisches Meishan, 4 x Wildschwein (wild boar)) was amplified by PCR and directly sequenced. All sequences were found to be identical and identical to the published sequence (T. Martin, S. Hughes, K. Hughes, and M. Dawson Biochem. Biophys. Acta 1995; 1270: 211)