Association between MHC gene and immune response to FMD vaccine in Malnad Gidda cattle

Malnad Gidda cattle with specific qualities like disease resistance, heat tolerance, ability to survive and productionunder stress and low input conditions needs to be conserved for future. They are found to be less susceptible forfoot and mouth disease (FMD) and are normally not vaccinated for FMD. The present study was conducted todetermine the genetic polymorphism at MHC DRB3.2 loci and cellular immune responsiveness to FMD vaccinationin Malnad Gidda compared to Hallikar × HF crossbred cattle. A total of 12 cattle, of which six Malnad Gidda andsix Hallikar × Holstein Friesian crossbred animals aged between one to three years were selected. The genomicDNA was isolated and utilized to determine the genetic polymorphism at MHC DRB3.2 loci. The blood sampleswere collected from the same animals for estimation of CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes by flow cytometry to determinethe cellular immune responsiveness to FMD vaccination. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysisGraphPad Prism Version 5.01. The two allelic variants MHC DRB3.2*117 and *219 present between MalnadGidda and Holstein Friesian crossbred cattle could be responsible for better cellular immune responsiveness withsignificantly higher CD4 lymphocytes population to FMD vaccination in Malnad Gidda cattle compared to Hallikar× HF crossbred cattle.