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Existence of specific alleles of MHC DRB II class genes in red deer point out to potential adaptation to Fascioloides magna infection

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes play a pivotal role in host defence system. Interaction between parasite infection and MHC genes are explained by two hypotheses, first that propose greater resistance in heterozygotes, and other that promotes the role of specific alleles. In this study, we have analysed relation between MHC genes and non-native trematode, Fascioloides magna. In total, we have analysed 91 red deer livers. DNA was isolated from 40 selected samples, exon 2 of the DRB loci of MHC class II was amplified by PCR, and sequenced by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). We have found 38 alleles, with only four of them been previously known (DRB_NS36, DRB_NS38, DRB_ref01, DRB_ref02). The presence of the DRB_ref01 allele was significantly higher in the area of Lipovljani compared to Baranja (χ2 = 4.928, p=0.026411). The DRB_ref02 allele was significantly more frequent in Lipovljani compared to Baranja (χ2 = 3.931, p = 0.473), and DRB_ref03 in Baranja than in Lipovljani (χ2 = 5.1481. p = 0.023272) and Spačva (χ2 = 4.5365, p = 0.033). The differences in infection between animals with DRB_ref01 and DRB_ref06 alleles were statistically significant (χ2 = 0.939, df = 1, χ2/df = 0.94, p = 0.332). The remaining alleles appeared rarely and could not be related to F. magna infection. The high allelic diversity observed in this research is in accordance with other studies conducted on deer species. The relationship between the DRB_ref01 and DRB_ref06 alleles suggests the potential evolution of host-parasite interaction in the case of red deer fascioloidosis.

red deer ; MHC genes ; DRB loci ; Fascioloides magna

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