Differential gene expression analysis of Dohne Merino sheep naturally infected with Haemochus contortus

Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) parasitic infections (e.g., Haemonchus contortus) affect sheep production and cause serious economic losses. The hardy South African Dohne Merino sheep bred to maximize wool and meat production represent an important genetic resource that can be harnessed to breed for resistance to GIN as an alternative strategy to chemical control of nematodes. In this study, RNA-Seq and differential gene expression profiling were used to understand the underlying molecular mechanism associated with the infection of H. contortus in Dohne Merino sheep.