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Abstract <p>Feather pecking is a complex, maladaptive behaviour predominantly observed in laying hens housed in battery cage systems. This behaviour can cause injuries, lead to cannibalism, and result in the painful death of target birds, thereby posing significant welfare concerns. Feather pecking is often attributed to nutritional deficiencies and stress, which can lead to alterations in multiple central neurotransmission systems and the immune system. While considerable research has focused on contributing factors, the genetic background of feather pecking remains significantly less explored. To elucidate the genetic basis of feather pecking, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with this behaviour were obtained from the public domain. Pathway enrichment and protein-protein interaction analysis on these SNPs identified significant enrichment in biological processes such as immune response, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Key genes like <i>IFNG</i>, <i>IL13</i>, and <i>IL4</i> were found to play pivotal roles across multiple pathways. KEGG, Reactome, and PANTHER pathway analyses also implicated genes in Toll-like receptor signalling and cytokine-mediated inflammation. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to suggest a potential link between SNPs in the angiogenesis pathway and feather pecking behaviour. Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified <i>FGGY</i>, <i>EXOC7</i> and <i>BARD3B</i> as the top hub genes. The pathways discovered in this study could be further investigated to provide deeper insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying feather pecking, potentially guiding the development of targeted interventions.</p>

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Bioinformatics-Driven Identification of Hub Genes and Enriched Pathways Associated with Feather Pecking in Poultry

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月31日

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  • Ymberzal Koul,
  • Utsav Surati,
  • Gaurav Patel

摘要

Abstract

Feather pecking is a complex, maladaptive behaviour predominantly observed in laying hens housed in battery cage systems. This behaviour can cause injuries, lead to cannibalism, and result in the painful death of target birds, thereby posing significant welfare concerns. Feather pecking is often attributed to nutritional deficiencies and stress, which can lead to alterations in multiple central neurotransmission systems and the immune system. While considerable research has focused on contributing factors, the genetic background of feather pecking remains significantly less explored. To elucidate the genetic basis of feather pecking, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with this behaviour were obtained from the public domain. Pathway enrichment and protein-protein interaction analysis on these SNPs identified significant enrichment in biological processes such as immune response, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Key genes like IFNG, IL13, and IL4 were found to play pivotal roles across multiple pathways. KEGG, Reactome, and PANTHER pathway analyses also implicated genes in Toll-like receptor signalling and cytokine-mediated inflammation. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to suggest a potential link between SNPs in the angiogenesis pathway and feather pecking behaviour. Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified FGGY, EXOC7 and BARD3B as the top hub genes. The pathways discovered in this study could be further investigated to provide deeper insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying feather pecking, potentially guiding the development of targeted interventions.