Short communication: Heritability estimates for susceptibility to Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis infection in Chinese Holstein cattle

Paratuberculosis in ruminants, which is caused by Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP), is a contagious, chronic enteric disease associated with economic losses, animal welfare, and health implications in dairy cattle production. In this study, we estimated the variance components and heritability of susceptibility to MAP infection in Chinese Holstein cattle. We collected 4,937 serum samples from cows in 7 dairy herds in the Beijing region of China and used the ELISA test to detect antibodies to MAP. Three statistical models were implemented to estimate heritabilities: (1) a linear model (ELISA sample-to-positive ratios as a continuous trait); (2) a binary threshold model (positive/negative from ELISA results); and (3) an ordered threshold model (ELISA results as an ordered categorical model with categories 1 to 5 corresponding to negative, uncertain, mildly positive, intermediate positive, and strongly positive). The heritability estimates ranged from 0.0389 to 0.1069, indicating that genetic factors affect MAP infection susceptibility in Chinese Holstein cattle.