Anticoagulant resistance evaluation in plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) based on Vkorc1 gene variation in eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Rodent resistance to coagulant drugs is usually associated with vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (Vkorc1) genetic variation. In this study, we analyzed nucleotide variation of three exons of the Vkorc1 gene in the plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) in eight regions of the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, through sequencing to identify genotypes and analysis of drug resistance in association with known mutations. For results, the three exons of the Vkorc1 gene of the plateau zokor were successfully obtained through PCR, and the presence of polymorphism was detected. Among the 870 plateau zokor individuals, 197 individuals had different Vkorc1 amino acid sequences from the wild type sequence. Geographically, Vkorc1 gene mutations were detected in five populations, and four genotypes were defined. Four missense mutation sites in Vkorc1 amino acid of plateau zokors were detected. Phe63Cys amino acid mutations were detected in four plateau zokor populations. When comparing the amino acid sequences with Rattus norvegicus, 18 missense mutations were found in the Vkorc1 gene of plateau zokor. This study provides a basis for the geographic management of resistant zokor populations and the control of resistance in the eastern margin of the Qinghai Tibetan plateau.