The recognized protective genotype against scrapie in sheep, ARR, has now been found for the first time in an Icelandic sheep. This is a great meeting because this is a genotype that is internationally recognized as a protector and has been worked on in many parts of Europe to eradicate horseradish with good results.
The genotype has never before been found in sheep in Iceland, despite extensive searches. Matís has been offering scrub gene analysis since 2004. Matís has traditionally sequenced the scraping gene in about 3,500 sheep and never before found this variability. Specialists at the University of Iceland Laboratory of Pathology at Keldur have also conducted a systematic search for this genotype for years.
Matís received samples for analysis from an extensive research project carried out by RML, the University of Iceland Laboratory of Pathology at Keldur and Karólína Elísabetardóttir, a sheep farmer in Hvammshlíð. The analyzes confirmed the previous result, but at the same time four additional related artefacts were found on the farm that carry this genotype.
Matís is currently working in collaboration with Stefanía Þorgeirsdóttir, a specialist at the University of Iceland's Experimental Center for Pathology at Keldur, on the introduction of new methods for diagnosing the scraping gene. The aim of the study is twofold. First, to add more genetic sites to the regular analysis, including the newly discovered protective genotype (site 171) and possibly more variable sites within the scraping gene. Secondly, ways will be sought to increase the efficiency and capacity of scrapie analyzes, with the aim of reducing the cost of analyzes so that it will be possible to reduce the price of analyzes to farmers.
More information about this remarkable discovery can be found on the RML website: Protective genotype ARR found