PrP genotype in Sarda breed sheep and its relevance to scrapie

Several PrP gene polymorphisms modulate sheep scrapie susceptibility. Recen tly, an increase of scrapie outbreaks has been reported in Italy. A vaccine containing sheep brain homogenate was used in most of the outbreaks. We in vestigated PrP gene polymorphisms in scrapie-affected and clinically health y Sarda breed sheep from a flock exposed to the aforementioned vaccine, and in affected Sarda sheep from unexposed flocks. All affected animals were ( Gln/Gln)(171) homozygous. Moreover, we observed no variation for Ala(136) a nd a new polymorphism (Lys to Asn) at codon 176. Our findings confirm the c orrelation between scrapie and (Gln/Gln)(171) in breeds with no variation f or Ala(136).