Genome-wide association analysis reveals genetic loci and candidate genes for white diarrhea in Jingyuan chickens

In order to investigate the basic genetic structure of dysentery in Jingyuan chickens and to explore the genetic markers associated with dysentery resistance in chickens, the present study was based on the genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) technique to investigate the candidate SNPs and genes associated with dysentery resistance in Jingyuan chickens, and a total of 12 SNPs were associated with dysentery resistance in Jingyuan chickens. In addition, some important candidate genes inciuding frizzled class receptor 4 (FZD4), DDB1 and CUL4 associated factor 13(DCAF13), regulating synaptic membrane exocytosis 2 (RIMS2), transmembrane protein 8C (TMEM8C), and RIC1 homolog (RIC1) were identified by selection signal analysis, gene annotation, and enrichment analysis. These results can be used as potential molecular selection markers for chicken dysentery resistance in Jingyuan chickens in order to improve the breeding of disease resistance in Jingyuan chickens.