Investigating the population structure and genetic differentiation of livestock guard dog breeds.

Livestock guarding dogs are a valuable adjunct to the pastoral community. Having been traditionally selected for their working ability, they fulfil their function with minimal interaction or command from their human owners. In this study, the population structure and the genetic differentiation of three Italian livestock guardian breeds (Sila's Dog, Maremma and Abruzzese Sheepdog and Mannara's Dog) and three functionally and physically similar breeds (Cane Corso, Central Asian Shepherd Dog and Caucasian Shepherd Dog), totalling 179 dogs unrelated at the second generation, were investigated with 18 autosomal microsatellite markers. Values for the number of alleles per locus, observed and expected heterozygosity, Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium, F stats, Nei's and Reynold's genetic distances, clustering and sub-population formation abilities and individual genetic structures were calculated. Our results show clear breed differentiation, whereby all the considered breeds show reasonable genetic variability despite small population sizes and variable selection schemes. These results provide meaningful data to stakeholders in specific breed and environmental conservation programmes.

Morphology and Aquaporin Immunohistochemistry of the Uterine Tube of Saanen Goats (Capra hircus): Comparison Throughout the Reproductive Cycle.

The expression of six different aquaporins (AQP1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9), integral membrane water channels that facilitate bi-directional passive movement of water, was investigated by immunohistochemistry in the uterine tube of pre-pubertal and adult Saanen goats (Capra hircus), comparing the different phases of the oestrous cycle. Regional morphology and secretory processes were markedly different during the goat oestrous cycle. The tested AQP molecules showed different expression patterns in comparison with already studied species. AQP1-immunoreactivity was evidenced at the endothelium of blood vessels and in nerve fibres, regardless of the tubal tract and cycle period. AQP4-immunoreactivity was shown on the lateral plasmalemma in the basal third of the epithelial cells at infundibulum and ampulla level in the cycling goats, more evidently during follicular than during luteal phase. No AQP4-immunoreactivity was noticed at the level of the isthmus region, regardless of the cycle phase. AQP5-immunoreactivity, localized at the apical surface of epithelial cells, increased from pre-puberty to adulthood. Thereafter, AQP5-immunoreactivity was prominent during the follicular phase, when it strongly decorated the apical plasmalemma of all epithelial cells at ampullary level. During luteal phase, immunoreactivity was discontinuous, being weak to strong at the apex of the secretory cells protruding into the lumen. In the isthmus region, the strongest AQP5-immunoreactivity was seen during follicular phase, with a clear localization in the apical plasmalemma of all the epithelial cells and also on the lateral plasmalemma. AQP2, 3 and 9 were undetectable all along the goat uterine tube. Likely, a collaboration of different AQP molecules sustains the fluid production in the goat uterine tube. AQP1-mediated transudation from the blood capillaries, together with permeation of the epithelium by AQP4 in the basal rim of the epithelial cells and final intervening of apical AQP5, could be involved in fluid production as well as in secretory processes.

A method for single nucleotide polymorphism selection for parentage assessment in goats.

Accurate pedigrees are essential to optimize genetic improvement and conservation of animal genetic resources. In goats, the use of mating groups and kidding management procedures hamper the identification of parentage. Small panels of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) have been proposed in other species to substitute microsatellites for parentage assessment. Using data from the current GoatSNP50 chip, we developed a new 3-step procedure to identify a low-density SNP panel for highly accurate parentage assessment. Methodologies for SNP selection used in other species are less suitable in the goat because of uncertainties in the genome assembly. The procedure developed in this study is based on parent-offspring identification and on estimation of Mendelian errors, followed by canonical discriminant analysis identification and stepwise regression reduction. Starting from a reference sample of 109 Alpine goats with known pedigree relationships, we first identified a panel of 200 SNP that was further reduced to 2 final panels of 130 and 114 SNP with random coincidental match inclusion of 1.51×10(-57) and 2.94×10(-34), respectively. In our reference data set, all panels correctly identified all parent-offspring combinations, revealing a 40% pedigree error rate in the information provided by breeders. All reference trios were confirmed by official tests based on microsatellites. Panels were also tested on Saanen and Teramana breeds. Although the testing on a larger set of breeds in the reference population is still needed to validate these results, our findings suggest that our procedure could identify SNP panels for accurate parentage assessment in goats or in other species with unreliable marker positioning.

Short communication: the unusual genetic trend of αS1-casein in Alpine and Saanen breeds.

Genetic variation at the αS1-casein locus (CSN1S1) is recognized as being crucial in the selection of dairy goats for cheese yield. At this locus, the existence of alleles that have strong, intermediate, weak, and null favorable effects on cheese yield and curd firmness is well known. Selection for alleles that have a strong favorable effect has been deliberately carried out, especially in France. In fact, the importance of αS1-casein in selection was recently confirmed in the selling policies of semen, where bucks are marketed according to their genotypes. We evaluated genotypes and alleles frequencies at the αS1-casein locus in 491 Italian Saanen and Alpine goats and compared them with previous data to investigate their evolution over the past decade. We also estimated soft cheese yield in a subset of the most represented genotypes to quantify the economic importance of considering the genetic trend of αS1-casein genotype frequencies. We found a significant increase in frequency of the allele with the strongest favorable effect, A (+12 and +13%), and of the intermediate allele E (+17 and +7%) in Saanen and Alpine goats, respectively. Surprisingly, the frequency of the strong allele B decreased strikingly over time (-12% in Saanen, -6% in Alpine from 2004 to 2012). This is consistent with the current marketing of semen, in that bucks that are homozygous for strong (AA and BB) and intermediate alleles (EE) and even heterozygous for these alleles (BE and AE) are considered equal. It is worth noting that this practice strongly penalizes the best breeders that have flocks composed almost entirely of goats that are homozygous for strong alleles. For heterozygous goats, we estimated an economic loss of €85 and €215 per goat per lactation, respectively, for AE and BE, compare with AA and BB genotypes. The marketing of buck semen should clearly differentiate these 2 alleles to ensure the best economic genetic progress at this locus.

Moderate alcohol use and health: a consensus document.

AIMS: The aim of this consensus paper is to review the available evidence on the association between moderate alcohol use, health and disease and to provide a working document to the scientific and health professional communities. DATA SYNTHESIS: In healthy adults and in the elderly, spontaneous consumption of alcoholic beverages within 30 g ethanol/d for men and 15 g/d for women is to be considered acceptable and do not deserve intervention by the primary care physician or the health professional in charge. Patients with increased risk for specific diseases, for example, women with familiar history of breast cancer, or subjects with familiar history of early cardiovascular disease, or cardiovascular patients should discuss with their physician their drinking habits. No abstainer should be advised to drink for health reasons. Alcohol use must be discouraged in specific physiological or personal situations or in selected age classes (children and adolescents, pregnant and lactating women and recovering alcoholics). Moreover, the possible interactions between alcohol and acute or chronic drug use must be discussed with the primary care physician. CONCLUSIONS: The choice to consume alcohol should be based on individual considerations, taking into account the influence on health and diet, the risk of alcoholism and abuse, the effect on behaviour and other factors that may vary with age and lifestyle. Moderation in drinking and development of an associated lifestyle culture should be fostered.

Epizootic neoplasia of the lateral line system of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in New York's Finger Lakes.

This article documents an epizootic of inflammation and neoplasia selectively affecting the lateral line system of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in 4 Finger Lakes in New York from 1985 to 1994. We studied more than 100 cases of this disease. Tumors occurred in 8% (5/64) of mature and 21% (3/14) of immature lake trout in the most severely affected lake. Lesions consisted of 1 or more neoplasm(s) in association with lymphocytic inflammation, multifocal erosions, and ulcerations of the epidermis along the lateral line. Lesions progressed from inflammatory to neoplastic, with 2-year-old lake trout showing locally extensive, intense lymphocytic infiltrates; 2- to 3-year-old fish having multiple, variably sized white masses up to 3 mm in diameter; and fish over 5 years old exhibiting 1 or more white, cerebriform masses greater than 1 cm in diameter. Histologic diagnoses of the tumors were predominantly spindle cell sarcomas or benign or malignant peripheral nerve sheath neoplasms, with fewer epitheliomas and carcinomas. Prevalence estimates did not vary significantly between sexes or season. The cause of this epizootic remains unclear. Tumor transmission trials, virus isolation procedures, and ultrastructural study of lesions failed to reveal evidence of a viral etiology. The Finger Lakes in which the disease occurred did not receive substantially more chemical pollution than unaffected lakes in the same chain during the epizootic, making an environmental carcinogen an unlikely primary cause of the epizootic. A hereditary component, however, may have contributed to this syndrome since only fish of the Seneca Lake strain were affected.