The plasma levels of conglutinin are heritable in cattle and low levels predispose to infection

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Abstract
Conglutinin, like mannan-binding lectin (MBL) and CL-43, is a serum collectin involved in the innate immune defence system. In man, low serum MBL concentrations, resulting from mutations in the collagen region, are associated with a common opsonic defect. Plasma levels of conglutinin in cattle were assayed by rocket immunoelectrophoresis to examine whether they were genetically determined. Samples were collected from calves (309 bull-calves and 260 heifers with complex pedigree relationships). The number of respiratory infections from the 42nd to 336th day of life was recorded. The number of infections was found to be genetically determined (heritability: h2=0·31±0·07). A wide concentration range of conglutinin was found in plasma (h2=0·52±0·07). The analysis revealed a negative association between disease frequency and the conglutinin levels (−0·56±0·18 for female; −0·50±0·18 for male). Levels of conglutinin below the detection limit of the assay (1·25 μg/ml) were found in 2% of the animals. If these animals are assumed to be homozygous for a single recessive allele causing low concentrations a gene frequency of 0·15 could be calculated. These findings suggests that selection for resistance against infectious disease is possible in cattle and that the level of plasma conglutinin may be a helpful trait in such a breeding scheme.