Nove trendy v imobilizaci zvirat v Zoo Praha.

The thesis deals with the current practice of the immobilization of certain families of animals in the Prague Zoological garden. The study covers the years 1997 - 2002. In the aardvark (Orycteropus afer) the combination of alpha2 agonist detomidine with the dissociative anaesthetic ketamine was efficient. In the Equidae family we recommended first to apply i.m. detomidine as premedication and, 15 minutes later, deliver the combination of opioid etorphine with the phenothiazine derivate acepromazine i.m. In the Felidae and Canidae families we were most satisfied with the combination of the alpha2 agonist medetomidine and the dissociative anaesthetic ketamine. In the Ursidae family we applied more combinations, e.g. the combination of medetomidine and ketamine. Atipamezole can be administered for antagonization, too. We also had good experience with the medetomidine/ketamine/Telazol combination. In the Primates order we applied most frequently the combination of medetomidine and ketamine. The study demonstrates that the current practice of the immobilization of zoo animals is based primarily on combinations of various anaesthetics. This practice arrives at a higher quality anaesthesia that is safer both for the animal and personnel participating in the procedure. The effort to reduce the application of human-dangerous anaesthetics (e.g. opioid etorphine), and at the same time to give preference to the type of anaesthetics such as alpha2 agonists is becoming more pronounced. The application of anaesthetis with a specific antagonist is also becoming more common. Despite all the recent progress no ideal combination of anaesthetics has been discovered for the Equidae family so far.Available from STL Prague, CZ / NTK - National Technical LibrarySIGLECZCzech Republi

Supernumerary Marker Chromosome Identified in Asian Elephant (<i>Elephas maximus</i>)

We identified a small, supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC) in two phenotypically normal Asian elephants (Elephas maximus): a female (2n = 57,XX,+mar) and her male offspring (2n = 57,XY,+mar). sSMCs are defined as structurally abnormal chromosomes that cannot be identified by conventional banding analysis since they are usually small and often lack distinct banding patterns. Although current molecular techniques can reveal their origin, the mechanism of their formation is not yet fully understood. We determined the origin of the marker using a suite of conventional and molecular cytogenetic approaches that included (a) G- and C-banding, (b) AgNOR staining, (c) preparation of a DNA clone using laser microdissection of the marker chromosome, (d) FISH with commercially available human painting and telomeric probes, and (e) FISH with centromeric DNA derived from the centromeric regions of a marker-free Asian elephant. Moreover, we present new information on the location and number of NORs in Asian and savanna elephants. We show that the metacentric marker was composed of heterochromatin with NORs at the terminal ends, originating most likely from the heterochromatic region of chromosome 27. In this context, we discuss the possible mechanism of marker formation. We also discuss the similarities between sSMCs and B chromosomes and whether the marker chromosome presented here could evolve into a B chromosome in the future

Polymorphism and selection in the major histocompatibility complex DRA and DQA genes in the family Equidae

The major histocompatibility complex genes coding for antigen binding and presenting molecules are the most polymorphic genes in the vertebrate genome. We studied the DRA and DQA gene polymorphism of the family Equidae. In addition to 11 previously reported DRA and 24 DQA alleles, six new DRA sequences and 13 new DQA alleles were identified in the genus Equus. Phylogenetic analysis of both DRA and DQA sequences provided evidence for trans-species polymorphism in the family Equidae. The phylogenetic trees differed from species relationships defined by standard taxonomy of Equidae and from trees based on mitochondrial or neutral gene sequence data. Analysis of selection showed differences between the less variable DRA and more variable DQA genes. DRA alleles were more often shared by more species. The DQA sequences analysed showed strong amongst-species positive selection; the selected amino acid positions mostly corresponded to selected positions in rodent and human DQA genes.Czech National Grant Agency, GA CR 523/06/140

Karyotype relationships among selected deer species and cattle revealed by bovine FISH probes.

The Cervidae family comprises more than fifty species divided into three subfamilies: Capreolinae, Cervinae and Hydropotinae. A characteristic attribute for the species included in this family is the great karyotype diversity, with the chromosomal numbers ranging from 2n = 6 observed in female Muntiacus muntjak vaginalis to 2n = 70 found in Mazama gouazoubira as a result of numerous Robertsonian and tandem fusions. This work reports chromosomal homologies between cattle (Bos taurus, 2n = 60) and nine cervid species using a combination of whole chromosome and region-specific paints and BAC clones derived from cattle. We show that despite the great diversity of karyotypes in the studied species, the number of conserved chromosomal segments detected by 29 cattle whole chromosome painting probes was 35 for all Cervidae samples. The detailed analysis of the X chromosomes revealed two different morphological types within Cervidae. The first one, present in the Capreolinae is a sub/metacentric X with the structure more similar to the bovine X. The second type found in Cervini and Muntiacini is an acrocentric X which shows rearrangements in the proximal part that have not yet been identified within Ruminantia. Moreover, we characterised four repetitive sequences organized in heterochromatic blocks on sex chromosomes of the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). We show that these repeats gave no hybridization signals to the chromosomes of the closely related moose (Alces alces) and are therefore specific to the reindeer

FISH showing hybridization of BTA1 BAC probes and their schematic illustration in various Cetartiodactyl species.

<p><b>(A</b>) Hybridization of cattle probes BAC1qp (pink), BAC1qd (green), and BAC1qt (red) probes on chromosomes of cattle (BTA), rusa deer (CTR) and reindeer (RTA). <b>(B</b>) Schematic illustration demonstrating rearrangements of BTA1 orthologs in rusa deer (CTR), Chinese muntjac (MRE), reindeer (RTA), pronghorn (AAM), giraffe (GCA), okapi (OJO) and pygmy hippo (CLI). The dots approximate the positions of BAC1qp (pink), BAC1qd (green), and BAC1qt (red) probes.</p

FISH examples demonstrating evolutionary rearrangements between cattle and various Cervidae species.

<p><b>(A)</b> Tandem fusion of BTA28/26 in milu deer (EDA) detected by region specific painting probes BTA26dist (red) and BTA28dist (green) <b>(B)</b> Centric fusion of BTA17 (red) and 19 (green) in rusa deer (CTR). <b>(C)</b> Centric fusion of BTA29/17 in moose (AAL) validated by probes BTA29dist (green) and BTA17dist (red). <b>(D)</b> Hybridization of BTA1 on reindeer (RTA) submetacentric and acrocentric orthologs. Centromeres are marked by lines.</p

A dendrogram representing phylogenetic relationships between the studied Cervidae species and other Pecoran members.

<p>The numbers correspond to the bovine chromosome equivalents. The distances between species are not representative of the evolution time.</p