Zero-inflated generalized Poisson regression mixture model for mapping quantitative trait loci underlying count trait with many zeros

Phenotypes measured in counts are commonly observed in nature. Statistical methods for mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying count traits are documented in the literature. The majority of them assume that the count phenotype follows a Poisson distribution with appropriate techniques being applied to handle data dispersion. When a count trait has a genetic basis, “naturally occurring” zero status also reflects the underlying gene effects. Simply ignoring or miss-handling the zero data may lead to wrong QTL inference. In this article, we propose an interval mapping approach for mapping QTL underlying count phenotypes containing many zeros. The effects of QTLs on the zero-inflated count trait are modelled through the zero-inflated generalized Poisson regression mixture model, which can handle the zero inflation and Poisson dispersion in the same distribution. We implement the approach using the EM algorithm with the Newton–Raphson algorithm embedded in the M-step, and provide a genome-wide scan for testing and estimating the QTL effects. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated through extensive simulation studies. Extensions to composite and multiple interval mapping are discussed. The utility of the developed approach is illustrated through a mouse F2F2 intercross data set. Significant QTLs are detected to control mouse cholesterol gallstone formation.