Using genomics to understand the genetic architecture of tolerance to Aleutian disease in mink

Aleutian disease (AD) caused by the Aleutian mink disease virus, is the most economically significant disease impacting mink (Neovison vison) production in Canada and worldwide. The costs of AD to the Canadian mink producers is over a million dollars annually in testing and loss of herds. Clinical outcomes following infection include reproductive failure, reduced growth performance and increased mortality. Although this disease has no vaccine or treatment, genetic variation in AD tolerance exists in mink due to the variability in their immune response to infection. Genomics technology provides tremendous opportunities to elucidate the biology of disease tolerance but the potential of this technology has not yet been investigated in mink health. The goals of this research program are to use genomics and bioinformatics approaches paired with analysis of immunity to advance our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying AD tolerance in mink. This research program will seek to (1) create the first genome assembly of mink using next generation sequencing and design a robust and reliable SNP assay for genomics discovery in mink, (2) discover genome structure and signature of selection as well as identify new genetic variants explaining variation in AD tolerance, and (3) identify the genetic relationships of AD tolerance with other economically important traits such as reproductive performance, fur quality, growth rate and pelt size. This work requires extensive data collection in the Canadian Centre for Fur Animal Research at Dalhousie Agriculture campus, which is the only mink research farm in Canada. The information gained in this program will contribute novel insights into genetic architecture of AD tolerance in mink and how this may impact mink health and productivity. The results of this research program will help to reduce the costs of AD to the Canadian mink farmers. Furthermore, results from these studies will be used to design and implement the similar methods to advance our understanding of other important diseases in mink and other animal species or human diseases such as Chediak-Higashi syndrome or deafness, which are prevalent on commercial mink farms. This program will generate highly qualified personnel capable of developing and applying innovative genomics and bioinformatics approaches of use in agriculture and the health sciences.