Polymorphisms in blood proteins of Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle breeds of Cameroon and Nigeria, and description of new albumin variants.

Polymorphisms in the five blood protein loci albumin (ALB), carbonic anhydrase (CA II), vitamin D binding protein (GC), haemoglobin (HBB), and transferrin (TF) were investigated in 520 individuals from 12 cattle populations (Bos indicus and Bos taurus) in Cameroon and Nigeria by isoelectric focusing with carrier ampholytes in ultrathin polyacrylamide gels (PAG-IEF) and by linear gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). While all loci in nine populations were polymorphic with up to six alleles at the ALB and TF loci: the Namchi population showed monomorphism at the CA II locus and Muturu at the ALB, CA II, and HBB loci. There was a clear distinction between Bos indicus and Bos taurus breeds at the ALB locus with ALBB predominating in indicine and ALBA predominating in taurtine breeds. CA IIS, GCA, and HBBA were the most commonly occurring alleles in all populations. Two variants not described before were demonstrated by PAG-IEF at the ALB locus and named ALBJ and ALBK. Mean effective number of alleles as measure of intrabreed diversity was higher in zebu populations (2.040-2.288) as compared to taurine breeds (1.349-1.836). Significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium occurred in some populations at the HBB and TF loci. More haplotypes of ALB/GC occurred in the zebu than taurine breeds. ALBAGCA predominated in the taurine populations and ALBBGCA in the indicine populations. Influence of zebu genes on the Namchi and N'Dama taurine breeds was detected at the ALB, CA II, HBB, and TF loci, and estimated at 61.5% and 5.7%, respectively. The high resolution of PAG-IEF in screening for polymorphisms within diversity studies was demonstrated.