Comparative analysis of genomic inbreeding parameters and runs of homozygosity islands in several fancy and meat rabbit breeds

Runs of homozygosity (ROH) are defined as long stretches of DNA homozygous at each polymorphic position. The proportion of genome covered by ROH and their length are indicators of the level and origin of inbreeding. In this study, we analysed SNP chip datasets (obtained using the Axiom OrcunSNP Array) of a total of 702 rabbits from 12 fancy breeds and four meat breeds to identify ROH with different approaches and calculate several genomic inbreeding parameters. The highest average number of ROH per animal was detected in Belgian Hare (~150) and the lowest in Italian Silver (~106). The average length of ROH ranged from 4.001 ± 0.556 Mb in Italian White to 6.268 ± 1.355 Mb in Ermine. The same two breeds had the lowest (427.9 ± 86.4 Mb, Italian White) and the highest (921.3 ± 179.8 Mb, Ermine) average values of the sum of all ROH segments. More fancy breeds had a higher level of genomic inbreeding (as defined by ROH) than meat breeds. Several ROH islands contain genes involved in body size, body length, pigmentation processes, carcass traits, growth, and reproduction traits (e.g.: AOX1, GPX5, IFRD1, ITGB8, NELL1, NR3C1, OCA2, TRIB1, TRIB2). Genomic inbreeding parameters can be useful to overcome the lack of information in the management of rabbit genetic resources. ROH provided information to understand, to some extent, the genetic history of rabbit breeds and to identify signatures of selection in the rabbit genome

Effect of does parity order on litter homogeneity parameters

In rabbits’ reproductive performance, litter size, birth weight, growth, and mortality rate are among the most important indicators to define the productive potential and they are associated with parity order. Birth weight and little size are valuable parameters as related to mortality and weaning weight. Thus, it is important to study individual newborn and intra-litter homogeneity parameters. This trial aimed to consider the litter homogeneity weight at birth, both within each litter and in the whole population, in order to suggest new proper within-litter homogenisation parameters. In this study, the 1st and 6th parity order had, respectively, the lowest and highest values in litter size (8.96 vs 12.39, n), born-alive (8.36 vs 12.22, n), litter weight (456.4 g vs 719.8, g), born-alive weight, and quartiles’ homogeneity. These parameters decreased in greater parity orders. No significant effects on still-born numbers and mortality rates were evidenced. All these litter homogeneity evaluation parameters appeared interesting in describing differences between parity orders. The results confirmed that does parity order influences litter size and born-alive weight, but also the intra- and inter-litter homogenisation. Litter homogenisation is crucial to ensure a proportionate share of milk, more equal growth, and better productive performances. Based on these results, we suggest for the commercial genetic centres to equalise the litters according to the birth weight, by dividing the population into quartiles and rearing kits with light birth weight in smaller litters and those with heavier birth weight in larger litters.HIGHLIGHTS Does parity order influences litter size and born-alive weight Kit’s quartiles distribution is a useful tool for equalisation practic

Epidemiology of non-oncological high-impact chronic pain in Ecuadorian adults in 2022

Supplementary document - Survey</p

PRIN 2017 Fibres - A Multidisciplinary Mineralogical, Crystal-Chemical and Biological Project. What have we learned after four years of research?

This opening paper introduces the contributions of this special issue on mineral fibres and reports a gallery of the major results accomplished within the multidisciplinary project PRIN (PROGETTI DI RICERCA DI RILEVANTE INTERESSE NAZIONALE) 2017 “FIBRES: a multidisciplinary mineralogical, crystal-chemical and biological project to amend the paradigm of toxicity and cancerogenicity of mineral fibres” by the six different Research Units from the Universities of Ancona, Genova, Modena, Rome, Pisa-Parma, and Urbino. The main goal of the project was to increase the knowledge of the mechanisms by which mineral fibres, with special attention to asbestos and fibrous erionite, prompt adverse effects in vivo, linking the fibres’ crystal-chemical-physical parameters to their toxicity/carcinogenicity potential and recasting the existing mechanistic ‘fibre toxicity paradigms’. This special issue contains specific contributions from each Research Unit of the project. The implications of the findings of the project are beyond the advance of the knowledge in the world of mineralogy/crystallography and constitute a remarkable progress in the understanding of the biological activity of mineral fibres in vivo. © 2023 Edizioni Nuova Cultura. All rights reserved