No association between the ovine leucocyte antigen (OLA) system in the Australian merino and susceptibility to Haemonchus contortus infection.

A genetic analysis has been made of the Ovine Leucocyte Antigenic (OLA) system in Australian merinos. The animals consisted of sires, dams and their progeny. The typing data were consistent with previous findings of a high degree of polymorphism. At least two closely linked loci with several alleles at each are necessary to explain the data. No evidence was found for an association between OLA types and three measures of susceptibility to infection by the blood-sucking parasite Haemonchus contortus. Attention is drawn to the utility of half-sib data for analysis of the genetic control of resistance to parasites in sheep and other animals with a similar breeding structure.