PCR screening and allele frequency estimation of bovine leukocyte adhesiondeficiency in Holstein and Gir cattle in Brazil

Bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD) is a disease known to affect th e Holstein cattle breed throughout the world. Eighty-eight Holstein dairy c ows and 88 Gir dairy bulls were genotyped by PCR for the CD 18 BLAD alelle. The frequency of the BLAD mutant allele and the BLAD-carrier prevalence in Brazilian Holstein cows were 2.8 and 5.7%, respectively. No mutant allele was found in any of the 88 Gir animals. We conclude that the CD 18 gene mut ation is prevalent in Brazilian Holstein cattle and absent or present at a very low frequency in Gir cattle.