Lactoferrin gene is one of the important candidate genes for
mastitis resistance. The gene is located on chromosome BTA 22 and consists of 17 exons spanning over 34.5 kb of genomic
DNA. The present study was undertaken with the objectives to identify allelic variants in exons 7 and 12 of
lactoferrin gene and to analyze association between its genetic variants and incidence of clinical
mastitis in Murrah buffalo. The amplification of exons 7 and 12 of
lactoferrin gene yielded amplicons of 232- and 461-bp sizes. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of 232-bp amplicon using BccI restriction
enzyme revealed three genotypes (AA, AB, and BB) with frequencies of 0.62, 0.22, and 0.16, respectively. The frequencies of two alleles, A and B, were estimated as 0.73 and 0.27. Hpy188I-RFLP for 461-bp amplicon revealed polymorphism with three genotypes, CC, CD, and DD, with respective frequencies of 0.06, 0.39, and 0.56, whereas frequencies for C and D alleles were 0.25 and 0.75. The chi-square (χ(2)) analysis revealed a significant association between incidence of clinical
mastitis and genetic variants of exon 7, and animals of AA genotype of exon 7 were found to be least susceptible to
mastitis. The findings indicate potential scope for incorporation of
lactoferrin gene in selection and breeding of Murrah buffaloes for improved genetic resistance to
mastitis.