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

Bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD) is a disease known to affect the Holstein cattle breed throughout the world. Eighty-eight Holstein dairy cows 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 mutation is prevalent in Brazilian Holstein cattle and absent or present at a very low frequency in Gir cattle.