Genetic association between NOD2 polymorphism and infection status by Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis in German Holstein cattle

The aim of the study was the analysis of the nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain containing 2 (NOD2, formerly CARD15) as a candidate gene for Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis infection in cattle. Eleven SNPs in the NOD2 gene were identified, and finally, four SNPs were included in a case–control study using 324 German Holstein cows tested for paratuberculosis using fecal culture and ELISA. The SNP (GenBank) AY518738S04:g.521G>A in exon 4 showed a significant association between the fecal culture status of the animals and NOD2 allele variants. The other three SNPs showed no associations in German Holstein cows.