Tollenaere C. auteur aut IRD Rahalison L. auteur aut IRD Ranjalahy M. auteur aut IRD Rahelinirina S. auteur aut IRD Duplantier Jean-Marc auteur aut IRD Brouat Carine auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access Madagascar remains one of the world's largest plague foci. The black rat, Rattus rattus, is the main reservoir of plague in rural areas. This species is highly susceptible to plague in plague-free areas (low-altitude regions), whereas rats from the plague focus areas (central highlands) have evolved a disease-resistance polymorphism. We used the candidate gene CCR5 to investigate the genetic basis of plague resistance in R. rattus. We found a unique non-synonymous substitution (H184R) in a functionally important region of the gene. We then compared (i) CCR5 genotypes of dying and surviving plague-challenged rats and (ii) CCR5 allelic frequencies in plague focus and plague-free populations. Our results suggested a higher prevalence of the substitution in resistant animals compared to susceptible individuals, and a tendency for higher frequencies in plague focus areas compared to plague-free areas. Therefore, the CCR5 polymorphism may be involved in Malagasy black rat plague resistance. CCR5 and other undetermined plague resistance markers may provide useful biological information about host evolution and disease dynamics. specialized Infectious disease resistance Yersinia pestis Chemokine receptor Candidate gene Immunogenetics 080 8 6 891-897 2008 1567-1348 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010044159 10.1016/j.meegid.2008.07.005 1567-1348 [F B010044159] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010044159 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2009/01/010044159.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2009-02-06 2017-08-23 fdi:010044159 fre