@article {3672,
	title = {Evaluating anti-CarLA salivary IgA response in a deer progeny test},
	journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production},
	volume = {80},
	year = {2020},
	month = {09/2020},
	pages = {156-160},
	address = {Online},
	abstract = {Farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus spp) are susceptible to infection by nematode parasites. A salivary antibody (IgA) that is naturally
produced in response to exposure to a nematode parasite carbohydrate larval surface antigen (CarLA) can provide a protection
against gastro-intestinal nematodes in sheep and rising-yearling farmed red deer. The concentrations of this CarLA-IgA were
measured in saliva samples collected at 6 and 10 months of age, in 1531 rising-yearling progeny of 36 sires across three farms
during a three-year progeny test. The CarLA-IgA concentrations differed across sires, farms and years, with 6-month levels being
much lower than 10-month levels. Heritability estimates were low (h2=0.10) for 6 months, but moderate and significant (h2=0.37,
P<0.05) for 10 months. These two traits were highly genetically correlated (rg=0.86) and moderately phenotypically correlated
(rp=0.27). There were low (rp 0.08-0.13) but significant (P<0.05) favourable phenotypic correlations with spring and pre-slaughter
live weight, and with growth rate from 3 to 10 months of age and 6 to 10 months of age. Sire variation and heritability of 10-month
response indicates that it may have utility as a selection criterion for improved ability of farmed deer to cope with nematode
challenge.
Keywords: red deer; nematode parasite; carbohydrate larval antigen; immune; Cervus elaphus},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Ward JF and Wheeler M and Shaw RJ and Asher GW}
}
