Summary
Evidence is presented that a dominant allele, S, is expressed as a receptor for K88 on the brushborder surface of the pig intestinal cell. The homozygous recessive (ss) lacks this receptor. The receptor enables K88 — positive coliforms to adhere to the gut of the piglet which they must do if they are to cause neonatal diarrhoea. The homozygous recessive is thus a disease resistant animal.
A possible reason for the persistence of the dominant (susceptible) gene is given.
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Communicated by A. Robertson
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Gibbons, R.A., Sellwood, R., Burrows, M. et al. Inheritance of resistance to neonatal E. coli diarrhoea in the pig: examination of the genetic system. Theoret. Appl. Genetics 51, 65–70 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00299479
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00299479