Several genes influence sheep’s reproductive performance, among them the paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 ( PITX2) gene. Thus, this study aimed to examine whether the variability within the PITX2 gene is associated with the reproductive performance of Awassi ewes. A total of 123 single-progeny ewes and 109 twin ewes were used to extract genomic DNA. An amplicon of 4 sequence fragments from exons 2, 4, 5 (upstream portion), and 5 (downstream portion) of the PITX2 gene was generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), 228, 304, 381, and 382 bp, respectively. Three genotypes of 382 bp amplicons were identified: CC, CT, and TT. Sequence analysis revealed a novel mutation in the CT genotype 319C > T. Statistical analysis revealed that single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 319C > T was associated with reproductive performance. Single-nucleotide polymorphism 319C > T-carrying ewes had significantly ( P ⩽ .01) lower litter sizes, twinning rates, lambing rates, and more days to lambing than those carrying CT and CC genotypes. Based on a logistic regression analysis, it was confirmed that the 319C > T SNP decreased litter size. Ewes with TT genotype produced fewer lambs than ewes with CT and CC genotypes. According to these results, the variant 319C> T SNP negatively affects the reproductive performance of Awassi sheep. Ewes carrying the 319C > T SNP have a lower litter size and are less prolific than those without the SNP.
Physiological status and litter size can indeed have a significant impact on ewes' hematological parameters, which are essential indicators of their health. Therefore, this study examined the hematological profiles of ewes during pregnancy with single and twins in the Awassi ewes. The present study involved 232 ewes in good health and at sexual maturity. Among them, 123 ewes had single pregnancies, while 109 ewes had twin pregnancies. The age range of the ewes included in the study was between 3.5 and 4.5 years. Hematological tests were conducted on the sheep's blood samples promptly following collection. The findings demonstrated variations in hematological parameters among pregnant ewes, with differences based on litter size. Ewes carrying twin pregnancies exhibited significantly higher levels of red blood corpuscular, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration during pregnancy. In comparison to single-pregnant ewes, Awassi ewes with twin pregnancies displayed elevated counts of white blood cells, lymphocytes, granulocytes, and granulocyte percentage compared to ewes with single pregnancies. Awassi ewes with twin pregnancies also exhibited a strong positive correlation with the leukocytes and erythrocytes constituents. In conclusion, these findings indicate that litter size significantly influences hematological parameters, highlighting the importance of considering the physiological status and litter size as indicators of ewes' health. The findings have practical implications in sheep breeding and reproduction, as they can be utilized to enhance the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of related conditions.
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