A DNA fingerprinting band associated with the susceptibility to CAE virus-induced arthritis in goats.

Caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) virus-induced arthritis can be found in all Swiss goat breeds and it has been shown that there is a genetic pre-disposition for this disease. The 10 Toggenburg, 32 Chamois coloured and 40 Saanen goats, specially selected for this study, were naturally infected with CAE virus. Within each breed there was an equal distribution between clinically healthy animals and animals suffering from arthritis. In the case of the Saanen goats, a DNA fingerprint band generated with the multi-locus probe pV47 was identified associated with susceptibility to CAE virus-induced arthritis. In the Chamois coloured goats, no association was found. Another candidate DNA fingerprint band was present in clinically healthy animals of the Toggenburg breed but their number was insufficient for analysis.