Sex Reversal Syndrome in an Egyptian Arabian Horse Detected Using Genomic Data - A case report.

A 4-year-old Straight Egyptian Arabian horse was evaluated in 2016 due to a malformation of external genitalia and male sexual behavior. On physical examination, small teats in the inguinal area and a rudimentary penis-like structure surrounded by a clitoral fossa could be seen. There was no evidence of vulva and vaginal canal. A stallion like behavior was observed, especially in the presence of mares in heat, when the animal was excited and aggressive and had erection of the penis-like structure. Blood samples were collected for two purposes: hormonal (testosterone and estradiol plasma concentration analyses) and genetic (cytogenetic and molecular analysis). The karyotype showed 32 pairs of chromosomes in all cells (2n = 64) including 14 and 18 pairs of metacentric and acrocentric chromosomes respectively, in agreement with a presumptive 64, XX complement. This result agree with STR and SNP molecular analysis, which also ruled out the possibility of hematopoietic chimerism. In addition, SNP genotyping showed no numerical chromosomal aberrations or large deletions or duplications, that can be linked to the phenotype in any autosome, nor numerical chromosomal abnormalities in the father and mother of the horse analyzed. In conclusion, we determined that the animal in the present study is a male pseudohermaphrodite.

Cytogenetic and molecular characterization of Speothos venaticus specimens / Caracterização citogenética e molecular de exemplares de Speothos venaticus

The bush dog (Speothos venaticus) is a South American canid, included in the IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) official list of animals threatened with extinction, in the vulnerable category. As a preservation and conservation strategy, specimens kept in captivity by Brazilian Institutions are monitored by a management plan. In order to characterize and analyze the genetic variability of bush dog specimens, a cytogenetic analysis was carried out, and microsatellite data were also obtained through the use of 15 primers, originally developed for the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). All tested primers showed transferability and amplified fragment sizes similar to those described for the canine genome. From the total number of primers, eight were tested, and presented two polymorphic regions. Regarding cytogenetic analysis, one of the animals had chromosomal mosaicism, disqualifying it as a reproducer to form stocks. Thus, we concluded that the genetic evaluation of wild animals kept in captivity provides data that can help with the practice of exchange between different institutions, avoiding problems in the reproductive capacity of the breeding stock.

O cachorro-vinagre (Speothos venaticus) é um canídeo sul americano que está na lista oficial do Ibama de animais ameaçados de extinção, na categoria vulnerável. Como estratégia de preservação e conservação, os espécimes mantidos em cativeiro por instituições brasileiras são acompanhados por um plano de manejo. Visando a caracterização genética e posterior análise de variabilidade genética de exemplares de cachorro-vinagre, foi feita a análise citogenética e testou-se a transferabilidade de 15 primers de regiões microssatélites desenvolvidos para o cachorro doméstico (Canis familiaris) para esta espécie de canídeo. Todos os primers testados mostraram transferabilidade, com fragmentos amplificados de tamanhos semelhantes aos descritos para o genoma canino. Do total de primers, oito foram testados em 25 animais cativos e, dentre estes, duas regiões apresentaram polimórficas. Em relação à análise citogenética, um dos animais analisados apresentou mosaicismo cromossômico, desqualificando-o para utilização como reprodutor na formação de plantéis. Os demais exemplares apresentaram padrão cariotípico esperado para a espécie. Desta forma, concluiu-se que a avaliação genética de animais silvestres criados em cativeiro fornece dados que podem auxiliar com a prática de intercâmbio entre animais de diferentes instituições, evitando o comprometimento na capacidade reprodutiva do plantel.

The karyotype of Cabassous unicinctus (Dasypodidae, Xenarthra)

Abstract ­ Armadillos was belonged to the Xenarthra Order, Dasypodidae family. This family has been comprising the largest number of genera and species among the Xenarthrans; eight (8) and 21, respectively. Two adult males of the species Cabassous unicinctus were analyzed in this study. Lymphocyte cultures from whole blood were used and the cells were then submitted to conventional staining by C- and Ag-NOR banding. Data regarding the number of chromosomes showed discrepancies among the species described in the literature. The 46 chromosomes observed were distributed in six large metacentric pairs, five medium submetacentric pairs, five medium and small metacentric pairs and six acrocentric pairs. The Y chromosome was classified such as the smallest acrocentric of the group. The X chromosome was classified as medium submetacentric, it considered atypical for mammals, because X was generally large size metacentric when it compared to the remaining karyotype. The diploid number reduction from 62 to 46 chromosomes may be explained by Robertsonian fusion and the inversion of acrocentric, or even the fission of centromeric regions of metacentric, given that the species Cabassous centralis had 23 acrocentric pairs and that this number was reduced to 14 pairs in the Cabassous tautouay and six pairs in the species described in the present work.

Análise cromossômica e molecular do javali europeu Sus scrofa scrofa e do suíno doméstico Sus scrofa domesticus / Cytogenetic and molecular analysis of a european wild boar Sus scrofa scrofa and domestic swine Sus scrofa domesticus

A presente investigação teve como objetivos: analisar animais presentes em diferentes criações de javalis no estado de São Paulo, com o intuito de auxiliar a identificação de javalis "puros" assim como javalis híbridos provenientes do cruzamento com o suíno doméstico, para tanto foram utilizadas avaliação do fenótipo dos animais, análises citogenéticas e da técnica molecular de RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA).O estudo do número de cromossomos nas células diplóides em 104 animais destinados a análise citogenética e fenotípica, revelou polimorfismo de 2n=36, 37 e 38 cromossomos. Por meio da técnica de bandamento GTG foi possível identificação da translocação Robertsoniana entre os cromossomos 15 e 17 como responsável por esse polimorfismo. Todavia, somente com a análise citogenética isolada, não foi possível determinar se a origem desse polimorfismo é decorrente das hibridações com o suíno doméstico ou se são características inerentes ao javali. Contudo, quando associado a análise citogenética com as características fenotípicas, foi possível identificar a existência de hibridações. A análise citogenética nos animais submetidos a técnica de RAPD, revelou 2n=36 cromossomos nos 16 javalis assim como 2n=38 cromossomos nos 11 suínos e, por meio dessa técnica, foram possíveis agrupamentos, separando o suíno doméstico, javali e um possível híbrido revelando-se uma técnica com potencial no auxílio da identificação de híbridos

Bovine carcass sexing by PCR method

The objective of the present study was to develop a methodology that would permit sexing bovine meat ready for commercialization. A male-specific primer sequence was used, followed by analysis of the amplified product. The method proved to be efficient for sex verification and is of practical utility in the prevention of fraud in beef sale