Mapping quantitative trait loci affecting leukocytes, body temperature and tonic immobility in Japanese quail

The purpose of this study was to identify QTL affecting lymphocytes, body temperature and tonic immobility on Japanese quail chromosome 3. 422 birds from F2 generation were measured for leukocytes, body temperature and tonic immobility and all of the 472 birds (related to three generations) were genotyped for 3 microsatellite markers on chromosome 3. QTL analysis was conducted using the interval mapping method. No QTL was detected for body temperature and tonic immobility. Although the main QTL effects were not significant for the studied traits chromosome wide significant QTL were found for percentage of heterophil, percentage of lymphocytes, ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes (at 38 cM) and percentage of eosonophils (at 7 cM) (P<0.05) in analysis of interaction of hatch and QTL. Chromosome wide significant QTL were also found for percentage of monocytes (at 34 cM) (P<0.01) and percentage of eosinophils (at 5cM) (P<0.05) in the analysis of interaction of sex and additive QTL effects.