Investigating the Polymorphism of TLR2 Gene and its Association with Somatic Cell Count in the Milk of Aleppo Goats Raised in Sanliurfa Province

Authors : Sultan Göllü, Mehmet Batmaz, Mehmet Osman Atlı, Faruk Bozkaya
Pages : 154-159
Doi:10.47027/duvetfd.1739798
View : 89 | Download : 43
Publication Date : 2025-12-31
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Mastitis is an important problem in the dairy industry which reduces milk yield and quality as well as causes economic loses. Somatic cell count (SCC) in milk is strongly associated to intra-mammary infections, thus represents an indicator of mammary health and milk quality. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is a member of of the Toll-like receptor family which is responsible for recognition of pathogens causing mastitis. Studies have shown that a 739G>A polymorphism in TLR2 gene is associated with SCC in milk in goat. This study aimed to determine the in the TLR2 gene (Toll-Like-Receptor 2) in Aleppo goats in Sanliurfa and to investigate whether there is a relationship between this polymorphism and somatic cell count (SCC) in milk. Milk samples (50 ml) were collected twice at one-month intervals from 100 goats in five farms raising Aleppo goats in Sanliurfa. The milk samples were used for DNA isolation and determination of SCC. The 442 bp region of the target TLR2 gene was amplified by PCR, and the PCR products were digested with the VspI enzyme and subjected to 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. Three genotypes, GG, GA, and AA, were observed in the entire sample. Of the 100 genotyped samples, 95 were GG, four were GA, and one was AA. The frequency of allele G was calculated as 0.97, and the frequency of allele A was calculated as 0.03. Mean SCC determined in milk samples from individuals carrying the A allele was found to be significantly lower. In conclusion, the G/A polymorphism of the TLR2 gene has a significant effect on SCC and this polymorphism can be used as a marker for selection purposes in breeding programs aimed at improving SCC and mastitis resistance in Aleppo goats.
Keywords : Keçi, PCR, polimorfizm, somatik hücre sayısı, TLR2

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